Police Bust Biggest Drug Ring In Northern States
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- Published on Wednesday, 19 February 2014 23:24
For illustration purposes only./WikipediaGEORGE TOWN, Feb 19 — The Penang police have crippled a syndicate with the largest drug distribution network in the northern states, with the seizure of 82.7kg of heroin and heroin base, and arrest of four people, including a China national.
The police also uncovered a drug-processing laboratory within a condominium unit in Green Lane here, from which the syndicate would distribute the drug to the states.
The seized drug was worth about RM4 million. Also seized were 163.9kg of caffeine and smaller amounts of syabu and eramine-5 pills.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said the syndicate which was in operation for about a year, was unearthed last Monday.
He said the suspects, comprising two men and two women, were remanded until Friday to facilitate investigations.
He said the four, aged between 28 and 42, were investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carried the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
“The men have criminal records relating to drugs and were recently freed from jail for drug-related offences. We believe one of them was the mastermind,” Mohd Bakri told a media conference here today.
He said the two-day police operation, beginning last Sunday at several locations in the state, was jointly carried out with the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Penang Narcotics Crime Investigation Department and the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group, better known as Sting.
In the first raid at a restaurant in Tanjung Tokong, the police arrested a couple and seized 18g of syabu, 137g of heroin and 69 eramine-5 pills.
In another raid at a massage parlour in Midlands Park, the police picked up a man and a China national. Here, 34g of heroin were seized.
Subsequently, Mohd Bakri said, one of the male suspects led the police to the condominium unit in Green Lane, where 73.5kg of heroin, nine kilogrammes of what was believed to be heroin base, and 163.9kg of caffeine were seized.
“Preliminary investigations revealed the syndicate had ties with several drug distribution syndicates in the country,” he added. — Bernama
