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THE Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN) has successfully dismantled a cross-border drug trafficking syndicate, seizing drugs worth over RM23 million and arresting three local men in a major operation in the Klang Valley last Tuesday.
According to Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin, Director of JSJN Bukit Aman, the suspects, aged between 41 and 58, were arrested during a raid on a terrace house in Bandar Sri Damansara at around 11:20 am.
During the raid, police discovered a package of Chinese tea leaves containing crystal-like substances suspected to be methamphetamine (syabu), along with blocks believed to be ketamine in one of the rooms of the house.
Further investigation led to the discovery of 10 white sacks containing 250 packages of Chinese tea leaves with ketamine blocks in the back passenger seat of a Hyundai Starex car.
In addition, two sacks with 30 packages of Chinese tea leaves containing ketamine and 15 packages containing syabu were found in the second row of the car’s rear passenger seats. In the car’s boot, 13 sacks were recovered, containing 260 packages of Chinese tea leaves with syabu.
The total weight of the drugs seized amounted to 287.27 kilograms of syabu and 289.45 kilograms of ketamine, valued at RM23.67 million.
The police also confiscated several luxury items, including a Mercedes Benz E240, BMW 523i, Honda City, RM23,000 in cash, and a Rolex watch, with an estimated total value of RM140,000.
Khaw revealed that the three suspects were being paid between RM10,000 and RM50,000 a month by the syndicate leader for their roles in storing and distributing the drugs, which were meant for both local and international markets.
The syndicate, which has been active since early December 2023, used a rented terrace house as a storage facility for the drugs before distributing them locally and exporting them to Indonesia.
“The drugs are believed to have been smuggled across the border from northern Malaysia by land. According to current trends, many syndicates prefer to export drugs to Indonesia due to the higher prices they fetch there—hundreds of thousands of ringgit per kilogram of syabu, compared to only tens of thousands of ringgit in the local market,” Khaw said.
The three suspects are currently being remanded for seven days, starting February 12, to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988.
The police are still tracking down the syndicate leader and continue to urge the public to report any information regarding drug distribution activities. Information can be shared with the JSJN hotline at 012-2087222.
Khaw stressed that the police, especially the JSJN, remain committed to fighting the nation's number one enemy—drug trafficking—and depend on public cooperation to curb the issue. - February 15, 2025
