The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Aedi Ariif bin Haji Zullizam, the mastermind behind the ‘Speedo’ drug distribution syndicate, on August 9.
The arrest was made possible with the assistance and cooperation of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID), Royal Malaysia Police, and the INTERPOL National Central Bureau Malaysia.
Aedi Ariif was apprehended at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on arrival from Bangkok, Thailand.
Aedi Ariif, who had been evading authorities by fleeing abroad, was tracked down and extradited to the Sultanate on August 13. He will face charges under Chapter 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act in Brunei courts.
Aedi Ariif is wanted in connection with a drug trafficking case under Chapter 27, Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, involving the importation of controlled substances into the Sultanate in November 2023.
The case involves the seizure of 3,071.20 grammes (g) of cannabis and 2,038.59g of methamphetamine (Syabu). If convicted, the quantity of drugs seized could result in a death sentence. Follow-up investigations related to this case led to the arrest of nine individuals, with the total value of drugs seized amounting to BND336,592.70.
A previous case involving Aedi Ariif caught the attention of the NCB when he was arrested as a minor with a seizure of 115.42g of cannabis.
The case was dropped as he was under 18 at the time. In 2020, he was linked to another case involving the seizure of 982.43g of cannabis, which is still ongoing.
Aedi Ariif is also being investigated under Section 3 of the Criminal Asset Recovery Order, 2012 (CARO). His name and the syndicate network have been associated with several other drug syndicate arrests carried out by the NCB between 2020 and 2024.
Investigations revealed that Aedi Ariif continued his drug distribution activities from abroad, recruiting and utilising young individuals in Brunei to distribute drugs in exchange for high payments. He also used their bank accounts to conduct financial transactions related to drug sales. This modus operandi is believed to be an attempt to complicate drug investigations and avoid direct linkage to the syndicate’s activities.
