The Malaysian police have busted a drug syndicate, which had been active in the northern part of the country, with the arrest of 12 people including 3 Bangladeshis and seized drugs worth about RM 2.16 million (Malaysian Ringgit).
Datuk Razarudin Husain, the director of Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), said 12 suspects were nabbed in 8 separate raids at several locations in Kedah and Penang on Friday, reports The Star.
He added that the suspects arrested included a woman from Laos and 3 Bangladeshi men.
"The suspects, aged between 22 and 58, were arrested during an operation that was conducted by the Bukit Aman NCID with collaboration from the Penang NCID," he said at a press conference at state police contingent headquarters on Sunday.
Razarudin said 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.
He added that the police also confiscated cash amounting RM 752 and six vehicles worth RM 210,000, 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 Razarudin.
He said the suspects have been remanded for seven days since November 13 and three of them have prior criminal and drugs offences.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.
