JOHOR BARU: Four men posing as Johor royalty were arrested for trying to hoodwink police into releasing a suspected drug trafficker.

The men, all in their 30s, approached a senior police officer and presented him with a "royal decree from the Sultan of Johor" which ordered the release of a 37-year-old woman in police custody.

The woman was arrested on July 12 in Century Garden near here after being found in possession of 1,000 Eramin 5 pills.

The "royal decree" on a yellow letterhead had the Sultan of Johor's insignia, seal and coat-of-arms, signed by the "Representative of the Southern Region Rulers".

Instead of being impressed, the police became suspicious and asked for a confirmation from the palace.
The palace denied issuing such a letter and knowing any of the four men, said Johor police chief Datuk Mokhtar Mohd Sharif.

All four tested positive for drugs.