The Royal Malaysia Police Force (PDRM) has crippled yet another drug trafficking activity involving two men who were captured at Gerik along the East-West Expressway on June 26.
According to the director of Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) Dato’ Razarudin Husain, the seized drugs of 448kg were worth a whopping RM23,728,850.
“The 447 packets of drugs in Chinese tea packaging (each weighing up to 1kg) were found in a Toyota Alphard vehicle which was being transported on a tow truck. The suspects, a father and son duo respectively aged 58 and 27, were the lorry driver and conductor. They’re from Kelantan.
“We believe that they’re involved in an international methamphetamine and ketamine trafficking syndicate sourced from Thailand, in which the drugs found could be used by around 2.1 million drug addicts from markets in the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia.
“Both suspects were issued a seven-day remand order from June 27 till July 3. They are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 in which if convicted, will be subject to a mandatory death sentence by hanging.”
He told reporters at the Perak Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) in Ipoh today (June 29).
Also present were the state police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid and JSJN chief of IPK Perak, Assistant Commissioner Lee King Chuan, among others.
“Preliminary investigations found that both suspects tested negative for drugs and had no prior offences.
“The tow truck, vehicle and some cash amounting to RM19,672 were seized under provision of the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988,” Razarudin added.
When asked by reporters on the modus operandi (MO), he explained, “We believe that the latest tactic used to distribute drugs is the usage of fancy cars, in this case, transported on tow trucks, as an attempt to escape from the police’s watch.
“Thus, PDRM, especially JSJN will be in continual efforts to track and capture remaining members of drug-related syndicates, so that they are brought to and sentenced by the law,” Razarudin expressed.
Chris Teh
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