BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Customs Department seized 30kg of methamphetamine worth RM966,976, wrapped in Chinese herbal tea packaging, in Bukit Gambir, Gelugor on April 4.
Its director Roselan Ramli said, acting on tip-off and intelligence, they carried out surveillance in a gated and guarded residential area.
"We conducted checks in the residential area before we found two bags under a tree about 9.30pm.
"Initial checks showed that the bags possibly contained drugs.
"We waited in the area for eight hours but no one came. We then took the bags back for further checks," he said today.
Roselan said thorough checks on the bags found 30 small packets wrapped in green tea packaging which contained methamphetamine weighing 30kg.
He said the modus operandi was to evade detection by the authorities.
"We are still investigating the matter further, including tracking down the suspect/s involved in smuggling and trafficking the drugs.
"We will investigate to see if the suspect/s is/are from the residential area, where the drugs came from as well as for which market," he added.
Roselan said they had obtained closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage in the area, facing towards the tree where the bags were placed.
"From what we found, there were movements by several individuals," he said.
Roselan said the seized drugs could be used by 15,000 addicts.
The case is probed under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.