Syabu worth RM20m seized, 3 traffickers arrested
KUALA TERENGGANU: Police seized more than RM20 million worth of syabu in the biggest drug bust in Marang and detained three traffickers, all men, in an integrated Special Tactical Inteligent Narcotics (STING) operation involving several state narcotic divisions.
The seizure of 288.5kg of syabu kept in 11 sacks containing hundreds of packets labelled as herbal tea and one bag placed in a trailer was made on Monday at a roadside near Kampung Bukit Payong, Marang, at 11pm.
Federal Narcotics Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said the drug bust was the biggest haul throughout Malaysia this year.
He said the police teams comprising Marang narcotics unit, Terengganu police contingent and STING operatives intercepted a trailer heading towards Kuala Lumpur from Kelantan.
“The trailer made a stop to rest by the roadside at Kampung Bukit Payong,” said Mohmad, adding that the trailer driver and attendant, who tested negative for drugs, were detained.
“Police later picked up a man the same night in Kuala Lumpur,” he said at the Kuala Terengganu Police Contingent yesterday.
He said three suspects, including two from Kampung Rawai and Kampung Binjai Rendah in Marang, were between 25 and 53 years old.
Mohmad said the raw drugs, from a neighbouring country, were filled in A-4 size tea packets to deceive the authorities.
“This is a new modus operandi among drug syndicates. They are using the east coast corridor to transport their drugs to their destination,” he added.
Also seized from the suspects were a Mitsubishi Triton, a Chevrolet Colorado and RM2,750.
The suspects were remanded on Tuesday for seven days at the Marang police station lock-up.
Mohmad also said the Penang Narcotics Investigation Department and Bukit Aman STING team detained three drug syndicate members, aged between 32 and 43, in two raids in Pulau Tikus at 3.30pm and 4.30pm on Tuesday.
“Our men seized syabu weighing 20.5kg worth RM1.4 million as well as a Nissan XTrail and a Toyota Camry,” he said.