MMEA foils attempt to smuggle nearly RM900,000 worth of ganja
The 3.30am operation saw a patrol team intercepting a suspicious wooden boat without registration markings, believed to be operated by a lone smuggler in the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border near Pulau Ketam, Kuala Perlis.
Kedah/Perlis MMEA director First Admiral Romli Mustafa said the successful seizure followed days of intelligence gathering.
"The suspect tried to change course towards the mangrove swamps surrounding the island after realising our patrol boat was closing in.
"He later abandoned the boat and fled by diving into the sea, escaping into the nearby mangrove area," he said here today.
A search of the vessel found a heap of tangled fishing nets, under which officers found eight colourful sacks containing 157 blocks of compressed ganja, weighing approximately 170.1kg.
Romli said the suspect likely disguised himself as a fisherman and used the fishing nets to conceal the contraband, a tactic meant to evade inspection.
"The total seizure is estimated at nearly RM900,000. The amount of drugs seized could have supplied more than 30,000 drug addicts."
Preliminary investigations suggest the smuggling operation is part of a wider syndicate involving both locals and foreigners believed to be active in Kedah and Perlis.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
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