No escaping the law: Comm Khaw (third from right) with Comm Hamzah (third from left) and other officers displaying the seized drugs after the operation. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: A drug ring here with links to a Kuala Lumpur-based syndicate has been crippled with the arrest of five men and the seizure of drugs worth over RM3mil in various parts of the island.
Bukit Aman Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said the operation on Nov 6 was a follow-up to the raid in Taman Desa Petaling where RM21.8mil of drugs were seized and two men – one a Singaporean – were arrested on Aug 10.
“Based on intelligence reports, Bukit Aman and Penang NCID coordinated a simultaneous raid across three locations in Tanjung Bungah, Jalan Yeoh Guan Seok and Air Itam at 9.50pm.
“The operation led to the arrest of the suspects aged between 32 and 59 at the premises that were being used as a drug processing laboratory and storerooms.
“Our investigations showed that a semi-detached house in Tanjung Bungah was used as the laboratory, where drug processing equipment, together with chemical substances (ingredients) weighing 40.6kg, were seized.
“Three suspects, including the drug chemist, were nabbed in the premises,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Also present were Penang police chief Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad and other senior NCID officers.
Comm Khaw said the second raid took place at an apartment in Air Itam, where a 59-year-old man was apprehended, while the third raid conducted at a shop in Jalan Yeoh Guan Seok led to the arrest of a 46-year-old suspect.
“The syndicate has been active since the middle of this year and their modus operandi was to immediately distribute the drugs upon being processed, to avoid detection by the NCID.
“They would use rental properties as makeshift drug processing and storage facilities, and their primary markets were the Penang Island and Klang Valley areas.
“The drugs seized were Ecstasy (13.9kg), syabu (6.02kg) and ketamine (4.9kg), which could feed the habit of 125,085 users.
“We also seized assets comprising two vehicles and a motorcycle worth RM89,000,” he added.
Comm Khaw said four of the five suspects had tested positive for drugs, and record checks revealed that each also had prior records of narcotics or criminal offences, indicating they were “hardened criminals”.
“They have since been remanded until Wednesday pending investigations for trafficking under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.”
He added that efforts were ongoing to trace more syndicate members, including the mastermind, who are still at large.
“I urge the public to report any information on drug distribution activities via our hotline at 012-2087222.
“We remain committed to fighting the nation’s number one enemy, and this operation marks a significant step in our efforts to curb the local drug trade,” said Comm Khaw.
