Kuala perlis: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in the Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle 170 kilograms of compressed cannabis, valued at nearly RM900,000, in the waters off Kuala Perlis early today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kedah and Perlis MMEA director First Admiral Romli Mustafa stated that the seizure of cannabis from a wooden engine-powered boat around 3:30 am was the outcome of intelligence gathered by the Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone intelligence unit. The operation was part of continuous patrolling under Op AMAN conducted over the past few days.

A maritime patrol boat detected an unregistered wooden vessel approximately 0.3 nautical miles west of Pulau Ketam using night vision binoculars. Upon spotting the patrol boat, the wooden vessel attempted to evade capture by heading towards a mangrove swamp but was intercepted. One suspect jumped into the sea and swam towards the mangroves to escape.

Romli revealed that a thorough inspection of the boat uncovered eight multicolored gunny sacks containing 157 blocks of compressed dry leaves, suspected to be cannabis. The cannabis was wrapped in clear plastic and packaging bearing foreign writing, concealed beneath fishing nets to avoid detection.

He explained that the syndicate’s modus operandi involved masquerading as local fishermen and infiltrating national waters under the cover of darkness to avoid authorities. There is suspicion that some local fishermen may also be involved in these smuggling activities.

The syndicate used unregistered wooden boats, likely originating from a neighboring country, to transfer the drugs to locally operated long-tail engine boats for delivery to shore. Romli stated that the quantity of cannabis seized could have supplied more than 30,000 addicts. The case is currently under investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952.