POLICE arrested seven men, including five members of the same family, and seized 41.8kg of syabu worth RM1.5 million, which was packed in Chinese tea packets, in raids in Pokok Sena and Bertam, Kepala Batas, last week.

Penang police chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the raids were carried out following tip-offs from members of the public and through intelligence gathering.

“In the first raid at a house in Pokok Sena at 8.45pm on Saturday, the police arrested five family members, aged 26 to 54, and confiscated 11 plastic packets of Chinese tea and two transparent packets containing 11.4kg of syabu worth more than RM412,000.

“The police also seized some equipment believed to be used to repackage the syabu,” he told a press conference today.

He said the house, which belonged to one of the family members, was used as a place to store and repackage the drug.

Shuhaily said the second raid was conducted at 8am on Sunday at a kiosk in Bertam where a trader and an unemployed man were arrested, and police seized of 30 packets of Chinese tea containing 30.4kg of syabu worth RM1.09 million.

The drug was found in Perodua Myvi parked at the location, he said.

Following the arrest of the seven men, he said, the police also seized three other cars: a Toyota Alphard, a Vios and a Ford Ranger, and RM1,000.

He said of those arrested, five tested positive for drugs and five had previous convictions for crime and drug-related offences.

Shuhaily said all the suspects are on remand until Friday for investigation under section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act. – Bernama, February 1, 2023.