Johor Bahru: Johor police arrested five men, including a Singaporean, and seized nearly 70 kilogrammes (kg) of drugs worth RM9 million across four districts during a crackdown on drug syndicates in the state from April 20 to 24.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, state police chief Datuk M. Kumar stated that a total of five drug trafficking syndicates were successfully dismantled. Three of these syndicates used vehicles as drug storage sites, while the remaining two involved apartments.
Kumar detailed the first operation, which occurred on April 20 at 1.30 pm along Jalan Abdullah Tahir, where a 22-year-old local man was arrested. The operation led to the seizure of 9.35 kg of ecstasy and 62 grams of ketamine, valued at RM1.57 million. These drugs were found during an inspection of an apartment rented by the suspect since early March.
The following operation took place on April 21 at a jetty in Batu Pahat at around 11.30 pm. A 36-year-old local man was apprehended with 20.71 kg of syabu and 13.99 grams of Erimin 5 pills, valued at RM3.34 million. Kumar noted that this syndicate utilized a Ford Ranger to store and distribute drugs to a neighboring country, with the vehicle registered under someone else’s name.
On April 23, another syndicate was dismantled in Kota Tinggi. Authorities arrested a 36-year-old local man and confiscated 20 kg of ecstasy worth RM1.72 million. The suspect reportedly used a rented Honda Civic for storing and processing the drugs to avoid detection.
In a separate raid in Kluang on the same day, police seized 9.90 kg of ecstasy, 187.30 grams of ketamine, and 78.30 Erimin 5 pills, valued at RM1.69 million. A 33-year-old local man was arrested for allegedly using a Proton Iswara to store and distribute drugs.
Later on April 23, a 47-year-old Singaporean man was arrested at an apartment in Danga Bay at 10 pm. He was suspected of using a fake national identity card and had rented the apartment for several months. In total, police seized 10 kg of ecstasy powder, 31.30 grams of ketamine, 44 grams of marijuana, nine grams of heroin, six grams of ecstasy pills, and 1.20 grams of yaba pills, all valued at RM1.68 million.
Kumar also mentioned that all five suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and have been remanded until tomorrow for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.