2 durian growers nabbed over drug smuggling syndicate

 

Police said the suspects were arrested in the Bukit Tinggi area on Saturday.

BENTONG: An international drug smuggling and local distribution syndicate was successfully busted with the arrest of two durian farmers and another man that led to the seizure of drugs, believed to be syabu, weighing 841.06kg and worth RM30.8 million.

Pahang police chief Ramli Yoosuf said the three local men, aged 61 to 63, were arrested by a police team in the Bukit Tinggi area on Saturday.

He said the arrest led to a raid on a house here that was used as a store for the drugs.

The syabu was to be sold in the market for RM36,000 per kg and could be used by about 4.2 million addicts, he added.

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Ramli said two of the suspects were durian growers, while the 62-year-old man was unemployed and is said to have been involved with the syndicate since early this year.

“The syndicate is believed to use courier services and sea routes to smuggle drugs to the international market, which we suspect is to regional countries. They were also involved in drug trafficking for the local market.

“Police are tracking down other members of the syndicate because those detained were only part of the syndicate,” he said at a press conference at the district police headquarters here today.

Also present was Pahang narcotics crime investigation department chief Azmi Awang Lah.

In addition to the drugs, Ramli said police also seized a Glock pistol, as well as fake firearms, bullet casings, live ammunition, a Nissan Sunny and RM1,564.

He added that the suspects had no criminal record and urine tests came back negative for drugs.

The suspects have been remanded until Saturday to assist in the investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 8 of the Arms Act 1960, he said.

In a separate arrest, Ramli said police detained a 31-year-old man who is believed to be involved in drug trafficking in Kampung Pengsenam, Temerloh.

He said further investigation found 10 plastic packets containing syabu, estimated to weigh 507.27gm and worth RM18,000.

He added that the man was believed to have procured the drug from the Klang Valley for distribution in Felda settlements.

The suspect, who has no previous criminal record, has been remanded for six days to assist in the investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. - FMT