POLICE have smashed two major drug trafficking syndicates, said to be among the largest so far this year, with the arrests of 23 individuals and seized various types of drugs worth about RM25.6 million.

All the suspects were nabbed in 13 raids under two special operations dubbed Op Heron and Op Watercress conducted in the Klang Valley, Johor, and Pahang from July 22 to 24.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Ramli Din said the suspects, aged between 25 and 57, were believed to have been actively smuggling drugs to Indonesia and Sabah in the past five months.

“Those nabbed comprised 17 local men, four local women, and two foreign women, namely, from Vietnam and Thailand including the masterminds,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Ramli said 296.8kg of drugs, including syabu (68kg), ecstasy pills (228.6kg), 208 amphetamine pills, and 750ml of liquid methamphetamine were seized in the raids.

He added the seized drugs could supply over one million addicts at a time.

Ramli said the syndicates were actively carrying out drug trafficking activities via boats off the coasts of Johor and Negri Sembilan, as well as through commercial flights to Sabah.

“Police also seized 15 vehicles, cash, jewellery, and watches worth more than RM2.3 million during the raids,” he said, adding all suspects were remanded for four days from the date of arrest.

The cases are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. 

“Police will continue to hunt for the remaining members of the syndicates,” he added. – Bernama, July 28, 2020.