GEORGE TOWN: Police scored their biggest success yet with the seizure of one tonne of syabu, worth a whopping RM54 million, in a raid at a store in Jelutong here, on Friday.
Police also detained a 47-year-old lorry driver.
The narcotics were discovered in a lorry during the 4pm raid, which police believe is the largest seizure of drugs in the country’s history.
“We arrested the lorry driver to assist in our investigation.
“We believe the drugs were brought in from a neighbouring country, either via land or sea,” said Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh.
He said the drugs were meant for export by a syndicate, and police are investigating the matter thoroughly.
“Penang serves as a drug trafficking and distribution hub, before the drugs are sent elsewhere.
“This is because the state has (plentiful) land, sea and air routes and this makes it easier for the syndicates,” Mohmad added.
He said that police apprehended the suspect in front of a shop in Jalan Tengah, Bayan Lepas, before the suspect leading police to the store in Jelutong.
“During checks at the store, we found 52 sacks of syabu, weighing 1,066kg, packed in Chinese tea packaging.
“The drugs were also found inside a lorry, with some of them having been moved to the store,” he told a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters here today.
“The cheap price of the syabu from the neighbouring country made them the preferred choice among syndicates.
“The syabu seized are able to cater to 5.3 million addicts, and we are hunting down members of the syndicate,” he added.
Mohmad said further investigation showed the suspect had no criminal record and has been remanded for seven days to assist investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.
It was also learnt that the syabu have been brought into the state two weeks ago by the syndicate.
The latest raid comes on the heels of another major haul of syabu and ecstasy worth RM26.1 million on Aug 21.
Four syndicate members were arrested in the raid.
