Cops nab 17, seize RM1.4m worth of drugs

JOHOR BARU: Police have crippled a drug syndicate following the arrest of 17 suspects in a special operation on April 4 and 6 here.
Police also seized RM1.4 million worth of heroin, ketamine, syabu, ecstasy pills and vehicles and a pistol with 28 bullets.
Johor police chief Commissioner Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said a team comprising the Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) and Johor NCID carried out the operation.
"I must thank the Singapore Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) who gave valuable information on this syndicate," he said, adding Malaysian police will continue cooperating with their counterparts in Singapore and other countries to combat the drug menace.
In the first raid at Johor Baru Selatan, Johor Baru Utara and Iskandar Puteri, policemen detained 10 suspects comprising of locals and a Vietnamese man, aged between 22 and 50.
"In the raid, police recovered 11.5kg of heroin, 60.66kg of syabu and six vehicles worth RM465,000. Cash in different currencies worth RM3,481 were also seized," added Mohd Khalil.
In the second raid at Tangkak, police nabbed seven individuals including a Thai aged between 31 and 47.
Police seized 24.77kg of heroin, 2.4kg of ketamine, 755g of syabu and 1,350 ecstasy pills.
"The second raid was significant because we also seized a gun with bullets from the suspects," he added.
The 17 suspects have been remanded for seven days until April 13.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.