GEORGE TOWN: Police said the three individuals with "Tan Sri" and "Datuk" titles, who are alleged to be masterminds of drug cartels in the country and are now on their radar, have no political links in the country.
Federal Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Razarudin Husain said the trio, all above 45-years-old, were purely involved in business.
"All three are in the country. They are legally engaged in businesses but with links to drugs. They have no political ties with any political party.
"We are just waiting for the right time to haul them in after we have gathered strong evidence against them.
"We don't want to catch them, just to release them later due to lack of evidence," he said when asked to comment on the Tan Sris and Datuks masterminds of the country's drug cartels.
Razarudin said the involvement of Tan Sris and Datuks in drug cartels was nothing new, with several arrests having been made in the past.
"Last year, we took action against two Datuks under the 'Langkah-langkah Pencegahan Khas' (LLPK). One is still in Batu Gajah while another in Kelantan. In 2017, we also took action against a Datuk under the LLPK.
"So, this is not something shocking. It is just that we have been doing it without publicising it," he added.
Yesterday, the New Straits Times reported that time was running out for Tan Sri and Datuk masterminds of the country's drug cartels.
The trio were believed to have used hotels, shipping, logistics and iron companies as fronts for their illicit activities, including the distribution of cocaine abroad.
Razarudin had said based on initial intelligence, the Tan Sris and Datuks' staff, or runners, would smuggle the drugs to Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong 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.
Meanwhile, Razarudin said police would not hesitate to take stern action against officers and personals found to be in cohorts with drug syndicates.
He vowed that no special treatment would be accorded to officers and personnel.
"Rather, if those detained are not prosecuted, we will ensure other forms of disciplinary action, including expulsion.
"So, I am warning these officers and personnel not to be in cohorts with the drug syndicates," he added.
Last Thursday, four people, including three civil servants, were detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) here to assist in an investigation into a graft case.
The four detained include a 43-year-old Assistant Superintendent of Police, a 40-year-old Lance Corporal, an employee of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), 36, and a 29-year-old civilian.
Sources said the four were detained on suspicion of receiving bribes to leak information and protect drug trafficking syndicates in the state over the past few years.
Based on the investigations, they had been receiving a sum of money every month. Altogether, they had received about RM500,000 for the past few years.