JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested a local man believed to be involved in a drug trafficking syndicate following the seizure of syabu worth more than RM1mil at Taman Mount Austin here.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said that acting on intelligence, police launched a raid and arrested the 36-year-old suspect at about 7.40pm on Saturday (March 14).
“The raid was carried out at a terrace house in Taman Mount Austin. Checks at the location found a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) parked in front of the house.
“Further inspection of the vehicle uncovered 21 packets of drugs believed to be syabu, weighing 20.2kg, with an estimated value of RM1.01mil,” he said at a press conference at the state police headquarters here on Tuesday (March 17).
Comm Ab Rahaman said initial investigations revealed that the suspect’s role in the syndicate was to distribute the drugs locally, especially at entertainment centres.
“The house belongs to the suspect’s father, while the car is registered to another individual based in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
“The original owner has arrears on the vehicle, and the suspect was keeping it here to avoid repossession, without knowing that it was being used to store drugs,” he said.
He added that the syndicate has been active since December last year, and police are tracking down other individuals involved.
Comm Ab Rahaman said further checks showed the suspect tested negative for drugs but has seven prior criminal offences.
“The suspect has been remanded until Thursday (March 19) to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he added.
