Johor Police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar (second right) showing the confiscated ecstasy during a press conference at the Johor police headquarters in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: A couple, believed to be waiting for a buyer, has been nabbed roadside in Iskandar Puteri near here with drugs worth RM2.4mil in their car.
The man and woman, aged 31 and 33, are believed to be part of a drug gang that stays on the move with vehicles used for both storage and distribution, said Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar.
"The syndicate used vehicles as mobile storage units to hide drugs before distributing them locally," he told a press conference at the Johor police headquarters on Wednesday (Jan 1).
"Acting on information, officers noticed a suspicious black vehicle parked by the roadside in Taman Mutiara Rini.
"Inside the vehicle, they found a man and a woman, believed to be a couple. A search of the car revealed various types of drugs hidden in the boot," he said.
He added that the couple were detained during raids by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department on Dec 28, between 12.30am and 4.30am, in Iskandar Puteri and Johor Baru.
Comm Kumar explained that the couple were believed to be waiting for a buyer. Following questioning, they led police to a house about 5km away at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Johor Baru but no drugs were discovered there.
Urine tests showed both suspects tested positive for ketamine and benzodiazepines and background checks revealed they both had prior drug-related offences.
Police confiscated 14,401.81gm of ecstasy powder worth RM2,405,102, 24.58gm of ketamine worth RM4,916, 2.75gm of methamphetamine worth RM302, and 19.48gm of ecstasy pills (51 pills) worth RM2,550.
This syndicate, active since October 2024, had a total drug haul valued at RM2,412,870, enough to supply around 72,195 users.
In addition to the drugs, police seized jewellery worth RM15,573 and 2,170 Thai baht (equivalent to RM284).
He added that the car used was registered to a family member of one of the suspects. Police believe the duo purchased drugs in bulk and repackaged them into smaller quantities for sale.
"We are investigating the source of their drug supply," said Comm Kumar, adding that each packet was sold for RM200 to RM300.
The suspects are held in custody for seven days, from Dec 28 2024 to Jan 3 2025, to aid investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
