MMEA makes biggest drug seizure this year worth RM2.7mil
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has seized drugs worth RM2.67mil from a boat off Parit Samsu, Muar.
Johor MMEA maritime operations deputy director Kapt Sanifah Yusof said an MMEA team was conducting a patrol at 2.10am yesterday when its officers spotted a boat with two men travelling along the
Parit Samsu coastline, 1.5 nautical miles southwest of Parit Jawa.
“When the two men spotted our team, they sped towards a mangrove area and threw out two sacks.
“The MMEA boat was unable to chase after the suspects as the enforcement boat had difficulty navigating through a shallow area.
“Our men managed to retrieve the sacks and found multiple packages inside.
“The first sack contained 24 black packages with white powder believed to be syabu weighing 24kg and worth RM1.2mil.
“In the second sack, we found another eight black packages containing pills believed to be ecstasy weighing 14.7kg valued at RM1.47mil,” he told reporters at the Johor MMEA office at Menara Tabung Haji here.
“The seized drugs were later brought to the MMEA Batu Pahat office.”
He said the drugs were believed to be headed for a neighbouring country, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act (ADB) 1952 for drug trafficking.
Sanifah said the seizure was the agency’s largest drug bust this year.
He said MMEA would increase its patrols along the Muar coastline as the area was becoming a hotspot for drug smugglers.
He said the seized syabu could be sold for RM80 to RM100 per gramme while each ecstasy pill could fetch between RM20 and RM30.
On another matter, Sanifah said the MMEA, the Royal Malaysian Navy and the marine police would be increasing patrols in the state’s southwest coastal area covering Pontian, Batu Pahat and Muar districts.
“This joint operation was introduced on May 15 to stop human trafficking and other illegal maritime activities,” he said.
“The enforcement agencies will be patrolling 231km of the coastline covering 3,889 sq km.”