ALOR STAR: Police arrested a couple from Kulim for trafficking 2.26kg of heroin worth RM50,000 at the North-South Expressway (NSE) rest area in Gurun.
The state Narcotics Investigation Department chief Superintendent Helmi Aris said in the 4.20pm raid yesterday, a police team stopped the couple when they alighted from their Proton Iswara, suspiciously parked at a parking bay for lorries at the rest area.
He said the team inspected the car and found a black plastic bag under the front passenger's seat containing five smaller plastic bags filled with heroin.
"The man, a 29-year-old labourer and his wife, aged 38, were detained immediately.
"The case is being investigated under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction," he said in a statement today.
Helmi added that initial investigation revealed that the drug was meant to be distributed in the Gurun and Sungai Petani areas.