Cops seize heroin base, MDMA worth RM10.8m at border [WATCH]
KUBANG PASU: Police have foiled attempts to smuggle into the country heroin base and MDMA powder worth RM10.8 million from Thailand following the separate arrests of two Malaysians on Sunday.
The suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, were arrested in a joint operation involving Thailand's Narcotics Control Board Office, Penang's and Kedah's Narcotics Criminal Investigation Departments and the Kedah and Perlis Narcotics Secretariats.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Investigation Department (Intelligence/Operations) acting director Deputy Commissioner Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali said the first arrest took place at 5.40pm when a man driving a Honda Accord was stopped at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex.
He said a search of the vehicle uncovered 160 plastic packets containing heroin base weighing approximately 59.2kg, hidden in a specially modified compartment behind the rear passenger seat.
"Following the first arrest, we intercepted another Honda Accord driven by a female suspect at a petrol station along the North-South Expressway in Bukit Kayu Hitam," he said at a press conference at the Kubang Pasu police headquarters.
"An inspection uncovered 155 transparent plastic packets containing compressed lumps believed to be heroin base and 35 plastic packets of powder suspected to be MDMA, weighing an estimated 2.37kg."
Mat Zani said the drugs could have supplied some 7.8 million users.
He added that 120.46kg of heroin base and 2.37kg of MDMA powder were seized, with an estimated street value of RM10.8 million.
"The syndicate's modus operandi involved using modified private vehicles to smuggle drugs from a neighbouring country for processing in Penang.
"The two suspects are unrelated and were paid up to RM20,000 each to transport the drugs into Malaysia."
Checks confirmed that neither suspect had any prior criminal record.
He said the seizure was the largest in the northern region to date, and further arrests were expected in both Malaysia and Thailand.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
"Both suspects have been remanded for seven days from June 16 to 22 for further investigations.
"Initial urine tests on both suspects returned negative for drug use."
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