KOTA BARU: Police have uncovered a drug trafficking syndicate’s tactic of using courier services to deliver cannabis to buyers within and outside the state, following the arrest of a man and the seizure of drugs worth nearly RM280,000 in Tanah Merah on Sunday (Nov 8).
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the syndicate, believed to have been active since August last year, was exposed following the arrest of a 27-year-old man during an operation conducted after a month of intelligence gathering at Kampung Batu 10, Batang Merbau, at 3.30pm.
He said the suspect, who realised that police were tailing the car he was driving, attempted to flee but lost control of the vehicle and crashed by the roadside before being arrested.
"An inspection of the driver’s compartment uncovered 14 yaba pills worth RM154, while questioning of the suspect led to the discovery of 13 packages of drugs at a telecommunications shop in Tanah Merah, which had just been delivered there for posting to buyers,” he said in a press conference at the Kelantan police headquarters on Monday (Nov 10).
Mohd Yusoff said the packages contained 12 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 90.38kg and valued at RM271,140, as well as a box of dried cannabis flowers weighing 7.6g and worth RM8,608, bringing the total seizure value to RM279,902.
He said investigations revealed that the syndicate used illegal jetties around Kampung Lalang Pepuyu, Tanah Merah, to bring drug supplies into the state before distributing them through courier services.
He said three other individuals believed to be involved were suspected of having fled to a neighbouring country.
"The suspect tested positive for methamphetamine, and checks found that he had six previous drug-related criminal records.
"He has been remanded for seven days from Nov 9, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said.
In a related development, Mohd Yusoff said police had held meetings with courier company operators in Kelantan, including Pos Malaysia, early this year to curb drug smuggling through delivery services.
He said the cooperation of courier operators, who also shared information with the authorities, had helped efforts to curb such activities. — Bernama
