Bike patrol unit scores record syabu bust
GEORGE TOWN: Two police corporals on motorcycle patrol in Bukit Mertajam captured a man who was transporting a lorry-load of syabu, enough for 3.1 million addicts.
Weighing 623.76kg in total with a street value of RM22.46mil, it is the country’s largest syabu seizure in five years.
Kpl Simon Pasang Kana and Kpl Mohd Shahilmi Shadan were patrolling Jalan Kebun Nenas at 2am on Feb 25 when they spotted the lorry driver acting suspiciously.
Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Razarudin Husain said they instructed the driver, a 23-year-old Indonesian, to stop and when inspected, found 495 packs of syabu weighing 511.95kg in the cargo bed.
“The corporals called for backup from the Central Seberang Prai District’s Narcotics Department and further inspections found another 101 packs of syabu worth RM3.84mil hidden in a special compartment under the chassis.
“The man then led police to a condominium unit nearby where five more packs of syabu weighing 4.9kg worth RM176,220 were recovered,” he told a press conference at the Penang state police headquarters yesterday.
The drugs are believed to have entered the country from Kelantan and on the way for distribution locally and in Indonesia.
“We believe the group has been operating since June last year,” he said.
Comm Razarudin said at the same time, a police team in Johor also swung into action and arrested three men in Kulai and Seri Alam to facilitate investigations into the case.
“The following day, another man was arrested in Sungai Buloh. One of them is the owner of the truck. All have been remanded between six and seven days,” he said.
Comm Razarudin added that two men who were with the lorry driver fled the scene but the police identified them as Indonesians based on passports that were recovered.
“They are still in the country and we have sought assistance from the Indonesian police,” he said.
The two corporals were awarded with certificates of commendation to recognise their accomplishment in thwarting the transportation of the drugs.