POLICE BUST BIGGEST DRUG SYNDICATE IN NORTH, NAB 10

By Zainal Abdul Jalil

ALOR SETAR (Malaysia), Aug 8 (Bernama) -- A 14-year-old schoolboy was among
10 people detained by the Bukit Aman police when they crippled the biggest drug
trafficking syndicate operating in the north, with the seizure of an assortment
of drugs worth about RM6.5 million. (USD1=RM2.98)

The syndicate, believed to have links with the Thai underworld, had been
operating for 10 months, smuggling drugs via the Bukit Kayu Hitam immigration
and customs quarantine complex (ICQ).

The well-coordinated anti-drug operation, with cooperation from the Thai
Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau (PNSB), saw the seizure of 88 slabs of
heroin worth RM3.08 million, 16.1kg of syabu (RM3.22 million), a kilogramme of
heroin (RM26,400), 30kg of ganja (RM60,000) and 1,999 WY pills worth RM59,970.

The drugs were seized from four locations.

Six Mercedes Benz cars and a Perodua Kenari, used by the syndicate's
members, and RM152,076 were seized from the suspects.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation director Noor Rashid
Ibrahim attributed the police success to simultaneous operations by the Thai and
Malaysian police.

He said the two forces mounted a roadblock at the 1.3km stretch along the
north-south expressway near Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQ and Sungai Petani South toll
exit, as well as raids on two houses in Taman Berlian and Sungai Kob, Kulim.

He said the ages of those detained ranged from 14 to 46, and comprised four
men, two women, the schoolboy and another teenager, and two Indonesian women.

"We are thankful to the public for providing information on the syndicate's
activities leading to their arrest within an hour," Noor Rashid told a press
conference at the Kedah police contigent headquarters here Sunday.

He said syndicate members had hidden drugs inside modified back seat
compartments of vehicles when travelling from the neighbouring country through
the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQ before their activities were routed by a team of
policemen from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman and Thailand.

Noor Rashid said the suspects were remanded for a week, beginning Saturday,
for investigations under Section 39B of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries
the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

It is understood the police would also investigate the case under the
Forfeiture of Properties Act to seize ill-gotten gains obtained from the sale of
drugs.