Police Nab Three Suspects, Seize MDMA Worth Over RM1.2 Mln In Seberang Perai
GEORGE TOWN, June 11 (Bernama) -- Police have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate following the arrest of three people and the seizure of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) worth over RM1.2 million in two raids in Seberang Perai Tengah, near here, on Tuesday (June 9) and yesterday.
Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the state Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) conducted the operation from 2 pm on Tuesday until 10 am yesterday, and arrested two men and a woman aged between 24 and 33.
“In the first raid, police arrested a man and a woman, as well seized 302 plastic packets containing suspected MDMA powder weighing 8,086.80 grammes worth RM1.211 million.
“In the follow-up raid in the same area, police also arrested a man believed to be acting as the runner for the syndicate,” he said in a statement today.
He added that preliminary investigations found that the syndicate had been active since April, with all the seized drugs believed to be sufficient for consumption by 26,956 addicts.
Azizee said all three suspects tested positive for ketamine, while the two men had prior records involving drug and criminal offences.
He said police also seized assets and cash belonging to the suspects worth RM215,783.20, including two cars, 30 pieces of jewellery and two branded handbags, with the total value of seized drugs and assets amounting to RM1.43 million.
All three suspects have been remanded for seven days until June 16 to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
In another case, Azizee said police also crippled two call centres linked to online investment scam syndicates targeting foreign nationals in separate raids in Butterworth and Batu Ferringhi, near here, yesterday.
In the first operation, he said a team of personnel from the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), together with the CCID from the Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) District Police Headquarters, raided a premises in Butterworth and arrested four men, aged between 20 and 36, believed to be agents of the call centre.
“They promoted fake investments online using the Tantan social media platform targeting Singaporeans. We also confiscated five mobile phones, three laptops, a modem, an access card and a house key.
“In a separate operation, the CCID from the Northeast District Police Headquarters raided a house in Batu Ferringhi believed to be an operational centre for an investment scam and non-existent USDT cryptocurrency exchange syndicate,” he said.
Azizee said polie also arrested five foreigners, including two women, all aged between 24 and 46, adding that preliminary investigations found that the syndicate was believed to be promoting fake investments and cryptocurrency exchanges targeting victims from China.
Police also seized 10 mobile phones, four laptops, one CPU unit, two keyboards, three computer mice, an internet router and a monitor believed to be used in the activity.
He added that the two cases are being investigated under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code for or cheating and criminal conspiracy, while all those arrested have been brought to court for remand applications to assist further investigations.
-- BERNAMA
