According to Penang deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad, a drug trafficking syndicate was recently dismantled in George Town with the arrest of six individuals, including a family of five. The police operation carried out between March 21 to 22 resulted in the seizure of 139.5kg of drugs believed to be cannabis valued at RM432,614. The operation, led by the state police headquarters Narcotic Criminal Investigation Department, took place in the Bayan Lepas area.
The first raid conducted during the operation led to the arrest of a mother and her three children, aged between 15 to 29 years old, at a residence in Bayan Lepas on March 21. The woman’s husband, aged 49, was also apprehended at a friend’s house, leading to the arrest of the entire family. Subsequent to the arrests, law enforcement officers confiscated 138 compressed marijuana packets weighing 139.5kg valued at RM432,614.
Upon further inspection inside the rented house of the family, five sacks containing 133 compressed marijuana packets, one plastic bag containing five compressed marijuana packets, and one box with 83 small transparent packets of dried leaves suspected to be marijuana weighing 0.6kg were found. Investigations indicated that the drug distribution syndicate had been operating since June of the previous year.
Police also seized three vehicles, including a car and two motorcycles, totaling a value of RM11,500. It was revealed that the confiscated drugs were meant for the local market, potentially supplying up to 280,000 drug users if they had reached their destination. Urine tests conducted on the suspects identified one individual as positive for marijuana with a criminal history.
Five of the suspects have been remanded for seven days starting on Friday, March 22, until March 28, while one suspect will be held for six days until March 27. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the penalty of death. The police are continuing their efforts to eradicate drug trafficking and distribution in the region.
