GEORGE TOWN: The startling discovery of two hand grenades and 689 bullets, found in a fire hydrant storage room at an apartment in Bukit Dumbar here on Sunday, is likely not connected to drug activities.
State Narcotics Department Chief Assistant Commissioner Maidu Abu Bakar said his team had handed over the case to the state police Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, after finding no link between the discovery of the ammunition and drug-related activities.
The bullets and hand grenades were found by a police anti-narcotics team when they raided an apartment on the 15th floor of the high-rise block. The raid followed an earlier arrest of a suspect, who had a record for drug activities.
Maidu said the 54-year-old suspect, arrested on Oct 1, was found with 20 kilograms of syabu and a pistol. An interrogation led to the discovery of another pistol and subsequently, the grenades and bullets.
“We believe the suspect is the mastermind of a drug group operating in the state. We believe that the group is now crippled with his arrest.
“However, we do not think there is a link between the suspect’s drug-related activities and the ammunition found,” he said at an event, where seized drug items were destroyed.
The event was attended by Bukit Aman narcotics division property forfeiture division senior assistant director ACP Dalbir Singh Tanah Singh.
Meanwhile, Dalbir said Penang police closed down five drug laboratories and seized various drugs worth RM341.93 million as of September this year.
In that period, a total of 1,398 investigation papers under the supply category were opened. Of that total, 95 per cent of the cases had been completed.
Dalbir said action was also taken against drug peddlers. From January to September this year, 4,241 cases were opened, with 93 per cent of them charged in court.
“A total of five investigation papers for cases last year were completed and we received the order to dispose of the drugs.
“Today, we will be handing over drugs worth RM9.536 million to Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd, which is registered under Department of Environment for disposal,” he said.