Police seize Rm7mil assets linked to drug ring

Deputy IGP doesn’t rule out more arrests in sabah case

KUALA LUMPUR: Assets worth more than Rm7mil belonging to a Sabah drug syndicate, headed by a Datuk, have been seized.

Deputy Inspector-general of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay (pic )saidthe assets were seized under the Anti-money Laundering, Anti-terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.

“Since the arrest of the leader and syndicate members on Dec 25, we have seized various assets.

“Among them are RM420,000 in 22 frozen bank accounts, 18 luxury vehicles worth Rm6.6mil, jewellery and watches worth about RM100,000 and RM35,000 in cash,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.

On top of the 10 suspects, including the Datuk who was a patron of a non-governmental organisation, Ayob Khan said police also detained a 43-yearold enforcement officer on Dec 29.

“This brings the total number of individuals arrested from the same syndicate to 11,” he said.

It is learnt that the officer of a government agency worked as a transporter for drug supplies. Currently based in the Klang Valley, the suspect previously worked in Sabah.

The Deputy IGP did not rule out further arrests.

“We want to bust the syndicate totally. Interrogation of the suspects are still ongoing,” he said.

Police are also working with the Internal Revenue Board to track down other assets belonging to the syndicate, described as the largest drug ring in Sabah.

“We are also actively looking for drug labs and dens connected to the syndicate,” he said.

It was reported that the 40-year-old Datuk had been running the drug-trafficking ring for over eight years.

He was also a businessman, who channelled proceeds from drug trafficking to various businesses to launder the money.

The success is a collaboration between the Narcotic Crime Investigation Department and the Eastern Sabah Security Command.