JOHOR BARU: Police seized some 82.86kg of syabu worth almost RM3 million and arrested eight people including the mastermind of the drug syndicate in three separate operations involving three states on Thursday.
In the raids that were conducted jointly between the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department and state police, the raiding party also confiscated several items, including eight cars and motorcycles, as well as jewelry and watches worth RM1.7 million.
Johor police chief Commissioner M.Kumar said the arrest were made when the team raided several houses, believed to be used as transit premises to store the contraband, before it was shipped to neighbouring countries on boats.
In Johor, he said, the team raided two houses in Parit Jawa, Muar and a double-storey terrace house in Tampoi here. He added that a separate team raided a house in Permatang Pauh, Penang and another in Muadzam Shah, Pahang.
"Eight men, aged between 23 and 40, were arrested during the operations. All of them tested negative for drugs but had previous criminal records, including one on the police's wanted person list.
"Preliminary Investigations revealed that the houses located near the sea in Muar were used as transit points to store drugs before the contraband was handed over to the boat 'tekongs' who used fishing boats to ferry the drugs out of the country, to elude the long arms of the law.
"The syndicate is believed to have been in operation since June last year. Police mounted several months of surveillance before zeroing in on their operation," he said.
Kumar said the syabu seized during the operations was cling-wrapped before being packed in packages of Chinese Tea packs, which could feed the habits of 414,349 addicts.
Also seized during the raids were 2.78g of ecstasy pills and 2.50g of ketamine.
"We also seized eight cars, 12 motorcycles, several jewellery and watches as well as RM10,200, worth RM1.7 million, believed to be ill-gains of the syndicate members," he said.