Drug ring crippled

JOHOR BARU: Police raids at two syabu laboratories near Ayer Hitam and Yong Peng have crippled an international drug syndicate.

Bukit Aman Narcotics CID director Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the raids were jointly conducted by Johor narcotics personnel and the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) from Bukit Aman at about 7am on Saturday, leading to the seizure of 12kg of syabu with a total street value of RM550,000.

Two foreigners aged 32 and 41, one of whom is a chemist, were arrested with a 49-year old Malaysian with five criminal records. Some of the drugs are believed to have been smuggled to Indonesia and Singapore.

“Our investigations have revealed that the drug syndicates have changed their modus operandi – from importing drugs to processing them here and exporting-smuggling out to other countries,” Mokhtar said yesterday.

Besides drugs, police also confiscated a Toyota Hilux, a Suzuki Swift and several gold rings from the suspects, who have been remanded until October 14.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death sentence.

Mokhtar said police have crippled 18 illegal drug laboratories this year. – by Low Sock Ken