POLICE crippled an international drug smuggling syndicate by seizing 60 tonnes of charcoal containing about 12 tonnes of cocaine worth RM2.4 billion at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) on September 10.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the syndicate, which brought the drugs from South America in three containers with 60 sacks of charcoal, was crippled in the Op Eagle operations conducted in Butterworth and Bayan Baru and Padang Serai, Kedah.

“The syndicate used Malaysia as a transit before the drugs are sent to other countries,” he said.

Hamid said the syndicate tried to throw the authorities off with a new modus operandi where the drugs were mixed with charcoal to make it difficult to be tracked down using current technology and methods. Tracker dogs also failed to detect the drugs.

“However, with the hard work and experience of the members of the Chemistry Department, we were able to uncover the hidden cocaine. This is the biggest drug haul in the country,” he said in a press conference in George Town today.

Police also arrested a local man, aged 29, who was responsible for handling the containers, to help in the investigations.

The man, who was found to be positive for methamphetamine, has been remanded until September 23. – Bernama, September 21, 2019.