Police nab transporters, seize ganja worth RM668,300

KANGAR: Police arrested six men suspected of being drug transporters and seized 267.32 kg of compressed ganja estimated to be worth RM668,300 in three raids around the state on Monday.

Perlis police chief Datuk Surina Saad said the raids were conducted by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department from Bukit Aman and the state police contingent headquarters between 8.30 am and 10 am.

"In the first arrest at about 8.30 am, police detected a four-wheel-drive vehicle in Jalan Tuanku Syed Putra, Kangar heading to Alor Setar, Kedah which was suspected to be involved in drug trafficking activities.

"Upon realising the presence of police, the vehicle sped off to escape before it skidded and rammed into a house in Kampung Lat Simpang Empat, Arau. Two local men aged 29 and 33 were nabbed and police seized 266.29 kg of ganja estimated to be worth RM665,725," she told reporters here today.

About an hour later, police arrested three suspects aged between 28 and 45 and seized 1.03 kg of ganja estimated to be worth RM2,575 at a house in Seriab here.

Surina said another 28-year-old suspect, believed to be linked to a drug trafficking syndicate, was arrested in Kampung Utan Ibus, Kuala Perlis.

All the suspects have been remanded for seven days until Jan 31 and the case is being investigated under Sections 15(1)(a) and 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Four of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and two others tested positive for ganja.

She said the syndicate's modus operandi was to bring in drugs from Thailand to Perlis before being distributed in the federal capital using the service of transporters consisting of unemployed individuals, farmers, labourers and mechanics with payments around RM6,000 to RM7,000.

She added that the drug trafficking activities, believed to be masterminded by a syndicate from a neighbouring country, started in November 2021 and the drugs were brought via sea routes using private boats.

"We will increase control at the country's borders to track down the remaining suspects and bring the mastermind to justice," she said.

-- BERNAMA