KOTA BARU: Police have dismantled a drug syndicate thought to be operated by a woman in Thailand, seizing 52kg of cannabis buds valued at RM1.82mil during a raid.
The raids, under Ops Agas, in Kuala Krai on Jan 3 also saw three men arrested.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the success was the result of a four-month intelligence operation.
The syndicate, active since September 2024, was believed to be masterminded by a woman in her 30s based in Thailand, he said during a press conference here.
Authorities are working with their Thai counterparts to locate her, as she is suspected of holding dual citizenship.
The first raid along Jalan Kota Baru-Gua Musang led to the arrest of a 32-year-old suspect after his Proton Exora collided with a police vehicle.
A search uncovered 320 clear plastic packages containing 52kg of cannabis buds.
A second raid in Taman Sri Guchil, Kuala Krai, resulted in the arrest of another two suspects, aged 40 and 50, who were travelling in a Perodua Myvi.
The seized drugs and the two impounded vehicles, worth around RM100,000, brought the total seizure to RM1.92mil.
All three suspects have been remanded from Jan 3 to 16.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Initial checks revealed the first suspect, who tested positive for ketamine, had nine prior criminal offences, while the second suspect had six.
Comm Hussein said the department would increase its personnel in border states to strengthen enforcement against drug smuggling.
He said the states given priority include Perlis, Kedah and Kelantan following a high record of smuggling cases.
“Last year alone, 62 large-scale drug smuggling attempts were thwarted at the borders of these three states.
“Some 25% or 15 of the cases were detected via illegal routes along the Kelantan-Thailand border,” he said, Bernama reported.
After many illegal jetties in Kelantan had been demolished, smuggling syndicates are now employing alternative tactics and using unregistered routes to continue their operations, Comm Hussein added.
“If there are additional posts, these border states will be given priority to further strengthen field operations,” he said.
