Police Nab Seven, Seize Drugs And Assets Worth Over RM1.3 Mln In Penang

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Penang police have crippled two drug trafficking syndicates after arresting seven individuals, including a Vietnamese woman, and seizing various types of drugs and assets, worth over RM1.3 million, in a series of raids across the state, from last Friday until today.

State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in the first case, police arrested two local men and a Vietnamese woman in a raid yesterday, which took place from 7 am to 5 pm in Butterworth, following intelligence and surveillance efforts.

“The three individuals, aged between 25 and 34, were arrested, and police seized 5,954 grams (g) of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 915.71g of ketamine, with a total value of RM1.1 million," he said, in a statement, today.

Hamzah disclosed that the drugs were obtained from a drug distribution network, and the suspects were distributing both type of drugs to entertainment venues around Penang.

One of the men works as a gold salesman, while his associate is unemployed. The detained woman is the girlfriend of one of the suspects, and they have been involved in drug trafficking since October last year, he said.

He added that the drugs seized could serve 50,000 drug users or 50,000 doses, while urine tests revealed that the two men tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, ketamine and benzodiazepines.

Police also confiscated a car, jewellery, branded watches and cash, all valued at RM56,000, as a result of the arrests.

In the second case, Hamzah said police arrested four local men, aged 24 to 48, in separate raids in George Town, for their involvement in drug trafficking, with various drugs worth RM66,215 seized.

“Between 10.15 pm on Friday and 1.45 am on Saturday, police seized 4,993.28 g of heroin, 544 cigarettes containing 942 g of mushrooms, 20 Erimin 5 tablets and 1.52 g of syabu,” said Hamzah.

The suspects include a barber, a restaurant worker and an unemployed man, all members of an active drug trafficking syndicate since mid-last year, he said.

One of them has a criminal record related to drugs and other crimes, and following their arrest, police also seized a car and jewellery valued at RM153,000, he added.

All seven individuals are currently remanded for seven days, effective yesterday and today, with both cases being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

-- BERNAMA