International drug trafficking syndicate busted with the arrest of 10 suspects

New Straits Times

4 days ago

MUAR: Police busted an international drug trafficking syndicate operating from Malaysia following the arrest of 10 individuals, including a married couple.
A total of 61.3kg of methamphetamine and 51.3gm of ecstasy pills, with an estimated street value of RM2 million, were seized.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the arrests were made on July 2, in four separate raids in Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor, and Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
Nine of those detained, including a woman, were Malaysian citizens, while one was a foreign man. They were between the ages of 29 and 70.
Hussein said the syndicate had been active since October last year and had used a terrace house in Muar as a storage facility before smuggling the drugs, meant for the international market, using sea routes to a neighbouring country.
"In the first raid, we arrested a local male suspect in Parit Pulai, Parit Jawa, Muar. A search of his car uncovered 51 plastic packages containing 51kg of methamphetamine.
"In follow-up operations, at a house in the Parit Pulai area, we arrested a married couple. Another five suspects, including one foreigner, were detained in Parit Bakar, Muar.
"One more suspect was arrested in Batu Pahat and was believed to be the leader of the syndicate, while the final suspect was apprehended at a house in Cheras.
"A search at the premises uncovered 17 plastic packets containing 10kg of methamphetamine and 105 ecstasy pills weighing about 51gm," he told a press conference held at Muar district police headquarters.
He said the suspects admitted to receiving monthly payments of between RM3,000 and RM15,000 for their involvement in the syndicate, adding that three of the suspects had prior criminal records related to firearms and drug offences.
Hussein said the seized drugs were potentially enough to fuel the habit of 306,000 individuals.
"Police also seized several assets, including vehicles, cash and luxury watches, bringing the total value of the confiscated items to RM2.7 million.
"The syndicate comprised several groups that sourced drugs and stored them in the Klang Valley before distributing part of the supply to Johor," he said.