Massive bust: DCP Mohd Khairi (second from right) showing the packets at the press conference. — Bernama
BANDAR PERMAISURI: Police have seized 244kg of methamphetamine valued at RM7.8mil in their largest drug bust of the year during a traffic operation, says Terengganu police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairudin.
He said the drugs were discovered inside a multipurpose vehicle (MPV), which had been abandoned by a man who fled into a nearby oil palm plantation upon seeing the traffic operation at KM62 of Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kota Baru on Sunday.
“The suspect, believed to be a local, was driving the MPV and had stopped by the roadside in a suspicious manner about 100m away from a traffic police team conducting the operation.
“While the team was approaching the vehicle, the man suddenly exited from the vehicle and fled into the plantation,” he told a press conference at the Setiu district police headquarters yesterday.
DCP Mohd Khairi said the Fire and Rescue Department assisted police in unlocking the MPV, which were found to contain silver and gold plastic packets filled with crystal-like substances, believed to be methamphetamine.
He added that a four-wheel drive (4WD) was also spotted acting suspiciously about 1km from the scene, believed to be linked to the suspect.
“The driver of the vehicle attempted to ram into police officers, forcing them to fire shots at the vehicle’s tires.
“The suspect sped off and later abandoned the locked 4WD in an oil palm plantation.
“The original licence plate of the MPV was discovered inside the vehicle,” he said.
DCP Mohd Khairi said that police are tracking down both suspects, with assistance from the police K9 unit and the General Operations Force.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the drugs were smuggled from Kelantan for distribution outside of Terengganu,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
