Datuk businessman, wife among alleged members of drug trafficking ring arrested

BATU PAHAT: A businessman with the title ‘Datuk’ and his wife were among nine individuals arrested by the police in raids conducted in Johor and Selangor between April 7 and 8 for alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking syndicate.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation deputy director (Intelligence and Operation) Zainudin Ahmad said police also seized 12.24kg of Syabu, 6.61kg of Ecstasy pills and 420gm of Ketamine, as well as three luxury vehicles and jewellery, all worth RM1.39 million.

The syndicate, believed to have been active since September last year, was believed to smuggle the drugs through the waters off Johor including from Batu Pahat, to Indonesia, he told a media conference at the Batu Pahat police station here yesterday.

He said of the nine suspects arrested, one of them tested positive for drugs while five had previous records for criminal and drug-related offences, including the 59-year-old businessman who was jailed five years for a drug offence.

All the suspects, aged between 22 and 59, are in remand for seven days for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Meanwhile, Zainudin said the syndicate was believed to be linked to a drug bust by Taiwanese authorities last month.

“Three Malaysians and four Indonesians were arrested in Taiwanese waters and involved a seizure of 281kg of ketamine with an estimated value of RM15 million,” he added.

He said the police were tracking down the remaining members of the syndicate.