SHAH ALAM – Police have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate following the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of 313.7 kg of methamphetamine worth RM10.3 million, here yesterday.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said the raid was held last Wednesday at about 7.30pm around Selangor, followed by follow-up inspections in Terengganu and Kedah.
The modus operandi of this case is to smuggle the drugs from Thailand using modified local vehicles, he said.
“The four suspects, aged between 23 and 40, were arrested and believed to be involved in drug smuggling and distribution activities in the local areas, especially in Klang Valley.
“The seized drugs are estimated to be used by 1.6 million addicts,” he told a press conference today.
Khaw said the drugs would be taken to a storage facility in Kedah after being brought in through the Bukit Kayu Hitam route.
“When the situation allows, the drugs will be moved to a store in Selangor, which is in a two-story terraced house in a guarded residential area in Shah Alam,” he said, adding that the syndicate is believed to have been active since October last year.
He said further investigation revealed that the four suspects involved were the transporters of the drugs.
“Two of the suspects, who are a cosmetics salesman and a tour bus manager, received the payment of RM30,000 each for the one-way trip to bring the drugs from a neighbouring country (Thailand) to the Klang Valley.
“They are also the coordinators for these drug operations.
“While the other two suspects received the payment of RM15,000 each as transporters.
“All the suspects have no previous criminal records, and the urine tests were also negative,” he said.
Khaw said the police also seized other assets of the suspects worth more than RM270,000, involving four vehicles, cash, and jewellery.
He said all the suspects are remanded for six days, from March 28 to April 2, for further investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, he added. – March 30, 2024