JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 23 — The police crippled an affluent drug distribution syndicate that can print counterfeit currency and documents in a special operation on January 13 and January 14, with the arrest of two of its members and seizing drugs worth RM3.68 million.
Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said that through four raids held in the district, the two local men aged 30 and 33 were detained by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department of the Johor Bahru South district and the Johor contingent police headquarters.
The syndicate’s modus operandi was to use vehicles and gated condominiums as a storage and repackaging facility for drugs to be distributed in the district.
“The confiscated drugs include 21.81kg of ecstasy powder, 1.40g of methamphetamine, and 40.28 litres of liquid that have yet to be identified.
“It is believed that the syndicate has been active since last December and further investigations are underway to track down the mastermind and other syndicate members," he said during a press conference at the Johor police headquarters today.
Kumar added that the syndicate was also found to be involved in forging documents and currency, resulting in the seizure of 13 identification cards and driver's licences, 18 fake banknotes in denominations of RM20, RM50, and RM100, ten bank cards and car registration cards, as well as printing equipment.
Cash of RM400, 222,000 Cambodian riels, and a Polo Britannia brand watch was also confiscated.
Meanwhile, he said both men tested positive for methamphetamine and both have past criminal and drug-related records.
The two were remanded for 12 days starting January 14, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Section 489B of the Penal Code, and Section 468 of the Penal Code.
— Bernama
