Syndicates prey on those in financial dire straits
KUALA LUMPUR: Individuals with financial difficulties, especially those from Sarawak and Pahang, are being targeted by international drug smuggling rings as potential drug mules.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the syndicate’s activities were exposed following the arrest of four individuals, including the foreign mastermind, in Brickfields on Thursday.
“The suspects, three locals acting as recruiters and the mastermind, a man holding a Hong Kong passport, who supplied the drugs, were arrested at a homestay in Brickfields.
“Two pairs of shoes and 450g of cocaine believed destined for two drug mules were also seized,” he told a press conference yesterday.
The syndicate had been identified for recruiting the five Malaysians arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, as well as five others at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.
On another matter, Comm Hussein said three small-scale drug distribution syndicates masterminded by a secret society were busted in a three-day operation around the San Peng Flats with 143 individuals detained.
“The operation was carried out following continuous intelligence and surveillance identifying the San Peng Flats as a hotspot for drug addiction and distribution activities masterminded by Gang 08,” he said.
Comm Hussein said the operation was aimed at eradicating small-scale drug distributors active in the area that had caused concern among local residents.
The operation involved 36 senior police officers and 210 personnel and successfully crippled three drug distribution syndicates identified as the main suppliers in the surrounding area.
Authorities recorded 71 cases involving 143 arrests, including three syndicate leaders.
“Of the total arrested, 127 are men and 16 are women, including 115 locals and 28 foreigners. Urine screening showed 107 tested positive for drugs, while 36 were negative,” he said.
He added that the operation also seized 151.6kg of various types of drugs worth RM7.7mil, which could have been used by about 505,000 individuals.
He said the operation showed NCID’s commitment to addressing drug addiction and distribution activities, including disrupting the supply chain and dismantling the main syndicates involved.
“Those with information on drug activities can contact the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222,” he said.
