ALOR STAR: Police on Thursday arrested two Thai men for trafficking 10kg of methamphetamine concealed in the spare tire of a Toyota Hilux.
Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh said the arrests took place on the roadside near Kampung Baru Balai Pos in Ayer Hitam at 11pm.
He said the men, aged 25 and 41, had tried to escape but were successfully apprehended after a brief struggle.
"Upon inspecting the vehicle, we found plastic packets within the spare tire located beneath the vehicle's storage area.
"There were 10 green plastic packages labeled 'Guanyin Wang', each containing a plastic bag with methamphetamine, totaling 10kg.
"Both men are unemployed and have no previous criminal record. The total value of drugs seized is RM349,800, and if not intercepted, these drugs could have been used by 20,000 people in the country," he told reporters at the state police headquarters.
Fisol said the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, adding that the men were remanded for seven days.
On another matter, he said seven men were arrested for conducting illegal online gaming and lottery activities near Taman Mutiara in Sungai Kob on Dec 31.
Fisol said the men, aged between 19 and 62, were detained in two simultaneous raids at 8pm.
"In the illegal lottery centre raid, two suspects were detained, and cash along with equipment used in the activities were confiscated.
"In the online gaming centre raid, five men were arrested, and police seized five mobile phones believed to have been used for the online gaming, along with a sum of cash," he added.
Fisol said the cases will be investigated under Section 4A(a) and Section 4B(a) of the Open Gambling Houses Act 1953.