Malaysian cops bust drug syndicate, arrest 12 including Bangladeshis

The Malaysian police have busted a drug syndicate, which had been active in the northern part of Malaysia and arrested its members, among whom three are Bangladeshi men.

 The raid seized drugs worth about RM2.164mil.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Razarudin Husain at a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters on Sunday said that 12 suspects were caught in eight separate raids at several locations in Kedah and Penang on Friday.

"The suspects are aged between 22 and 58," he added.

He further said that the police found 872 lumps of dried leaves believed to be marijuana weighing about 865.7kg during the raids at several locations in Penang and Kedah.

The police also confiscated cash amounting RM752 and six vehicles worth RM210,000, saying that the syndicate was led by a 56-year-old man and has been active since early this year.

"The drugs were believed to have been supplied from a neighbouring country and were meant for distribution in the northern and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia," said Comm Razarudin.

He said the suspects have been remanded for seven days since Nov 13 and three of them have prior criminal and drugs offences. Testing revealed that four of the suspects were positive for marijuana, methamphetamine, and Erimin 5.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.