GEORGE TOWN: Candy, ice lemon tea and hot chocolate packaging was used to conceal drugs uncovered in recent operations here.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng said four separate drug busts were conducted in the state, leading to the seizure of over RM3mil in drugs and the arrest of seven locals, six men and a woman.
"(The raids were conducted) between Aug 15 and 22, leading to the seizure of various drugs including MDMA, ganja powder, ganja buds, Erimin 5 pills, ecstasy, ketamine and methamphetamine," he told a press conference at state police headquarters here on Friday (Aug 28).
"In the first operation, the North Seberang Perai Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) arrested a 23-year-old local man in Butterworth at about 6pm on Aug 15.
"They seized about 3kg of MDMA powder, with an estimated value of over RM450,000.
"The suspect was remanded for five days to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952."
Comm Lim said that in the second operation, the same team arrested a 46-year-old local man in Butterworth at about 10pm on Aug 19.
"We seized about 1.3kg of MDMA powder, with an estimated value exceeding RM10,000.
"The suspect was remanded for investigations under Section 39B of the Act and was then charged in court on Aug 21," he said.
He said separately on the island, police arrested three local men and a local woman, aged between 23 and 35, for alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities in Tanjung Tokong.
"The four were arrested on Aug 15 and 16.
"We seized 38.3kg of ganja powder, 11.47kg of ganja buds, 4,004 Erimin 5 pills, 14kg of methamphetamine, 5kg of ketamine and 16kg of ecstasy pills.
"The drugs were estimated to be worth RM1.177mil.
"The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Act as well and all four suspects were remanded for 13 days to facilitate investigations," he said.
Comm Lim said that on Saturday (Aug 22), the Central Seberang Perai narcotics team arrested a 28-year-old local man in Bukit Mertajam on suspicion of involvement in drug trafficking.
"We seized about 8.4kg of MDMA powder, 1,755 ecstasy pills, 1,000 Erimin 5 pills, 0.63kg of ketamine and nine liquid methamphetamine cartridges in the operation.
"The drugs were estimated to be worth more than RM1.382mil," he said.
Comm Lim said the suspects have been actively involved in drug trafficking around Penang since May.
"Four of them tested positive for drugs and five of them have criminal records for crime and drug-related offences."
Police also seized items estimated to be worth RM89,000 under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, he added, attributing the operations' success to intelligence gathered by the NCID as well as cooperation from the public.
