ISKANDAR PUTERI (ANN/THE STAR) – Police have crippled one of the largest drug trafficking syndicates in Johor believed to be supplying narcotics to Singapore and Indonesia, with the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of drugs worth MYR14.3mil.
The operation, carried out on March 27, was the result of a joint effort between the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) and the Johor contingent’s NCID, said Bukit Aman NCID acting director Deputy Comm Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali.
He said the suspects, a 28-year-old Malaysian man and his girlfriend, were arrested at a parking area of an apartment in Iskandar Puteri at about 5.30pm, where police intercepted a car.
“A search of the vehicle uncovered approximately 2kg of syabu, 3.3kg of heroin, and a further 1.5kg of heroin base in plastic packages,” he said during a press conference at the Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters here on Tuesday (April 8).
A follow-up raid was conducted the same day at a flat in Iskandar Puteri around 6pm, where authorities uncovered 56 plastic packages containing an estimated 83kg of ecstasy pills.
In addition, police found 69 more packs of heroin with a total weight of 31.2kg.
Police also discovered equipment used to process heroin and ecstasy, suggesting that the location was operating as a mini drug laboratory.
In total, police seized 34.5kg of heroin, 1.5kg of heroin base, 83kg of ecstasy pills, and 2kg of syabu during the operation.
“These drugs, if released into the market, could have supplied more than 658,000 users,” DCP Mat Zani said.
The syndicate is believed to have utilised high-security, gated residential apartments to avoid detection, with activities ongoing since September 2024. The units served not only as storage but also as facilities for processing drugs.
He added that one of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and had a criminal record from 2014. The same individual had also been arrested in Singapore in 2015 for drug offences and had only been released from prison in February last year.
“They resumed trafficking activities shortly after being released,” he said.
The two suspects have since been charged on April 4 under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Police believe the narcotics originated from the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, smuggled into Johor through courier services, before being prepared for export.
The male suspect served as a courier and runner for the syndicate, while the mastermind behind the operation is still being pursued.
“We believed that the masterminds were from outside the country. All communications are believed to have taken place via encrypted messaging platforms such as WeChat, WhatsApp, and LINE, making it difficult for the couriers to identify their superiors. It is understood the suspects were paid between MYR8,000 and MYR10,000 per delivery, depending on the quantity of drugs moved,” he added.
He added that police are now pursuing further action under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988 and efforts are ongoing to trace and seize the syndicate’s assets.
“This is a significant success in preserving Malaysia’s international reputation. We cannot allow the country to be seen as a drug-producing or transit nation,” DCP Mat Zani said.
