Police cripple drug syndicate, 15 suspects arrested

JOHOR BARU: Police have crippled a drug syndicate following the arrest of 15 suspects in a special operation on Dec 2 in Johor and Kuala Lumpur.
Police also seized RM1.7 million worth of heroin and vehicles and cash valued at RM730,000.
“The syndicate, which was newly set up, aimed at trafficking heroin to the local and Singapore markets,” Federal police Narcotics Criminal Investigations Department (NCID) director Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Sharif said in a press conference at Johor police headquarters here today.
He said a team comprising the Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) and Johor NCID carried out the operation between 3am and 12pm on Dec 2 when they arrested a suspect in Kulai.
The suspect led police to a nearby apartment where police found 27kg of heroin in his car.
The team also carried out nine follow-up raids in Johor Baru, Segamat and Kuala Lumpur and arrested 15 suspects, including one woman, aged between 18 to 40.
Three of the suspects tested positive for drug use.
He said another 310g of heroin also seized in the raids.
“I must thank the Singapore Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) who gave valuable information on this syndicate,” Mohd Mokhtar said, adding Malaysian police will continue cooperating with their counterparts in Singapore and other countries to combat the drug menace.
CNB director Ng Ser Song was also present at the press conference.
Mohd Mokhtar also ordered that a task force to further investigate this case.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.