GEORGETOWN - Police have busted an international drug syndicate following the arrest of eight men including two Thais and the seizure of 840 kilogrammes (kg) of cannabis worth RM2.12 million.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the discovery of the drugs was made during two raids which were carried out between 10.50pm and 1am at Sungai Bakap and Simpang Ampat on Friday.
He said during the raid, seven of the suspects were caught while they were unloading the drugs from a lorry for distribution to the local market.
"Through intelligence, police found that the syndicate have been active since late 2021, smuggling in the drugs from Satun, Thailand by sea.
"During the raid, they were unloading the compressed drugs at a residential area in Sungai Bakap before the seven men were arrested while another suspect was detained in Simpang Ampat shortly after that," he said at a press conference at the Penang contingent police headquarters, here, today.
Ayob Khan said four of the suspects were tested positive for Tetra Hydrocannibol (THC) while another suspect was tested positive for morphine.
He said all suspects aged between 35 to 59 have been remanded for seven days for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.
"Apart from 848 slabs of compressed cannabis, police also seized three vehicles belonging to the suspects worth RM80,000 following the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988.
"If the drugs were to go out, it could have been used by 1.6 million drug addicts," he said.
He urged people to continue channeling information related to drug trafficking activities to the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department hotline at 012-2087222.