SHAH ALAM: Police have crippled a drug distribution syndicate using the Telegram messaging application with the arrest of four men, a seizure of 6,530 grams of ganja and several vehicles.
Shah Alam district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said the seizure and arrest were made following a raid from a team of policemen from the district police headquarters Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) on Sunday.
"On Jan 14 at 6.40pm, the Shah Alam district police headquarters NCID mounted a raid at a condominium at the Glenmarie Industrial Park where the police had successfully apprehended four Malay men aged 31 to 32 years old who were involved in the ganja distribution for the local market.
"This raid successfully seized 6,530g of ganja valued at RM20,243 and could have satisfied the cravings of 1,306 drug addicts.
"Urine screening tests on all those arrested also indicated positive for cannabis, with one of them having a prior record related to the Poisons Act.
He said all the suspects have been remanded for seven days, starting Monday, Jan 15 to Jan 21, for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
"A Mazda 3, valued at RM65,000; a Perodua Bezza, valued at RM35,000; and a Yamaha motorcycle, valued at RM3,000, were also seized under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988.
"The total value of drugs and vehicles forfeited was RM128,243," he said during a press conference at the Shah Alam district police headquarters.
Iqbal said that based on intelligence gathered, the distribution activity has been active for the past year in the Klang Valley, where the modus operandi involves supplying drugs to customers based on orders received through the Telegram messaging application.
"Buyers of the drugs will enter the private group chat, make a selection to buy the ganja, which ranges from 100g to 1,000g, and then proceed to make their payments to an account registered under the company called 'Pasir Berdengung'.
"Orders are shipped out to customers around the Klang Valley using courier services."
The police district chief added that a collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is underway to trace the syndicate's patrons.
He added that further arrests related to the case are anticipated as part of the ongoing investigation.
Iqbal also said police would continue to ramp up their efforts to combat drug distribution activities.
"We hope the community will continue to provide information about drug-distribution activities in their vicinity," he said.