GEORGE TOWN: A transporter, who was transferring drugs into his rented car, was detained by police during an ambush at a business centre in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan here yesterday.
The 34-year-old suspect is believed to have travelled from the Klang Valley in order to transport the drugs back for the market there.
It is learnt that he received about RM5,000 per trip.
State police chief Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said, during the ambush, police found 150 packets of drugs, believed to be syabu weighing 157,185g, worth RM5.187 million inside two cars.
"The suspect, who works as a wireman, was in the midst of transferring the drugs from a parked Honda HRV to his Perodua Bezza when our raiding team ambushed him.
"Checks inside both cars led to the recovery of the drugs, packed in Chinese tea packaging.
"We believe the drugs, from Thailand, are brought via land route to Penang before it is being distributed here and the Klang Valley," he told newsmen at the state police contingent headquarters here today.
Khaw said the drugs, if found their way to the market, could have been used by some 926,000 addicts.
"Urine test on the suspect came back negative for drugs.
"The suspect also had a previous criminal record," he said, adding that the suspect had been remanded for a week to assist in investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act.
Khaw said they were also tracking down the owner of the Honda HRV as well as other possible syndicate members.