KUALA LUMPUR: The police are now shifting their investigation to crack down on drug-ring leaders aside from drug dealing, says Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police said this is because the mastermind and their right-wing men should be the main target to break the drug supply chain.
He explained that in doing so, they have conducted an investigation under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) for organised crime and under Section 130V of the Penal Code for organised crime.
"Our target is the syndicate as a whole. After this, we might seize some drugs but our focus is to arrest and take action against the mastermind and their right-wing men because they have significant responsibilities (in the syndicate).
"We will arrest the mastermind to prevent drug dealings. If we (don't arrest them), it might take a long time to overcome the issue (of drug dealing)," he said to the media after witnessing a handing over ceremony at the KL Police Academy, here, today.
On Tuesday, police smashed Sabah's biggest drug ring with the arrest of a Datuk, who is also the patron of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Ayob said the 'Datuk' was among the 10 syndicate members arrested in a special operation between the Bukit Aman Narcotics department and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) on Monday.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate, which has been active since 2015, is the biggest drug syndicate in Sabah and has an international and local distribution network.
Ayob said no drugs were seized in the operation adding that investigations are still ongoing.