KUALA LUMPUR: Three individuals with "Tan Sri" and "Datuk" titles, who are allegedly masterminds of drug cartels in the country, are now on the radar of the police.
The trio, all above 45-years-old, are believed to have used hotel, shipping, logistics and iron companies as fronts for their illicit activities, including the distribution of cocaine abroad.
The men do not involve the employees of their legitimate businesses in their drug distribution and smuggling activities, to avoid leaks.
Federal police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director, Datuk Razarudin Husain, said the Tan Sri and Datuk have different staff to handle the smuggling, storage and distribution of drugs.
"NCID is currently gathering information and evidence from drug syndicate members who have been arrested before we nab the trio.
"In fact, we arrested some of their men through several operations at the federal, state and district-levels nationwide," he said when contacted by Berita Harian today.
Razarudin highlighted that it is crucial for his team to obtain strong evidence before any arrests are made to ensure that the men are punished accordingly under the provisions of the law.
"We will arrest those active in the Peninsula once we have strong evidence to prove their involvement in drug trafficking and distribution activities," he said.
He said based on initial intelligence, the Tan Sri and Datuk's staff, or runners, would smuggle the drugs to Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia using air cargo and ships.
He said the country's largest drug bust in 2019, when 12 tonnes of cocaine valued at RM2.4 billion were seized at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT), is believed to be related to the trio.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador revealed that police have identified several key masterminds of drug-trafficking syndicates in the country who are hiding behind their titles of "Tan Sri", "Datuk Seri" and "Datuk".
He was quoted as saying: "I will make sure that these people are put behind bars. Although I know they are (with the titles of) 'Datuk', 'Datuk Seri' and even 'Tan Sri', we will expose their irresponsible acts and bring them to justice, or at least place them under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) 1959."