03-07-2025
Cops ‘sniff out' drugs worth millions hidden in pile of cow dung
Acting director of the Bukit Aman narcotics crime investigation department Mat Zani @ Salahuddin Che Ali (second from left) showing some of the items seized. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Police busted a 'pil kuda' (yaba) trafficking syndicate and seized drugs weighing over 35.4kg, valued at RM5.04 million, during six raids in Pasir Mas and Tumpat, Kelantan, last Friday.
Acting director of the Bukit Aman narcotics crime investigation department Mat Zani @ Salahuddin Che Ali said six local suspects, comprising five men and one woman aged between 25 and 39, were arrested in the operation, Bernama reported.
He said the operation's success was the result of year-long intelligence gathering by Bukit Aman in cooperation with the Kelantan police contingent to combat the activities of the syndicate, believed to be active since 2022.
Police first stopped a car on Jalan Gajah Mati, Banggol Chica, Pasir Mas, and arrested a 34-year-old male suspect. They found 115g of yaba pills in the car and 112g at his home nearby.
Police also searched a cattle shed with six cows behind his house and found 20kg of yaba pills hidden in a pile of cow dung.
'The syndicate's modus operandi was to use the cattle shed as a storage facility before distributing the drug to the local market,' Mat Sani said.
In simultaneous raids, police also arrested another male suspect and seized his four-wheel-drive vehicle as well as 15.4kg of yaba pills.
'In further raids at several houses around Pasir Mas and Tumpat, we detained three more suspects, including a woman, who is the wife of the first suspect.
'We believe the profits from selling these pills were used to open other businesses such as a seafood restaurant in Tanah Merah, a salon and online businesses.
'They were laundering the illegal proceeds from their drug activities by engaging in these businesses,' Mat Zani said.
He added that the syndicate targeted school students and teenagers throughout Kelantan, the Klang Valley and Johor Bahru.
Police also seized jewellery, branded bags and several luxury cars worth over RM1.1 million.
Initial urine tests found all the suspects negative for drugs.
