RM1 mil drugs seized in raid

7th January, 2009

PENANG: Police on Sunday seized two types of drugs worth RM1 million during a raid on a house in Relau which was converted into a drugs processing laboratory. The raid was conducted following the arrest of a man in his 30’s in Georgetown at 2.45pm the same day following months of surveillance, said Penang chief police officer Datuk Ayub Yaakob.

“As a result of the arrest a team from the Penang Narcotics Investigations Department raided the house and seized the drugs and drugs processing equipment,” he said at a news conference yesterday. In the raid, police seized three kilogrammes of syabu and 1.5kg ecstasy worth RM1 million in all.

Initial investigation revealed that the unemployed man belonging to a syndicate, turned the rented house into a laboratory and distributed the drugs in the state. The man had a drug-related record.

Police believe the syndicate has been active for a few months and efforts are on-going to find the rest of the members. “We are also investigating if the man has links with other syndicates,” he said. The man has been remanded until Jan 10 to help in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Meanwhile, Ayub said last year Penang police arrested 12,230 people involved in various drugs cases and seized RM8.7 million worth of banned substances. “Last year we succeeded in busting five illegal drug processing laboratories and seized RM5.9 million of drug distributors’ property,” he said.

Sources: New Sabah Times.