Penang police have successfully dismantled a cross-border drug syndicate, arresting one Vietnamese “drug mule” and three local traffickers, and seizing 112.1kg of cannabis and cannabis buds worth RM3.72 million.
The syndicate, which has been active since March this year, sourced its drugs from a neighbouring country. A 34-year-old Vietnamese man, hired as a courier to smuggle the drugs into Malaysia, was caught during his second attempt.
The seized drugs were meant for distribution in local markets, particularly in northern Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur. Authorities estimate that the quantity could have led to 230,000 instances of drug use or supplied up to 230,000 individuals.
At a press conference at the Penang Police Headquarters, Acting State Police Chief DCP Datuk Mohd Alwi revealed details of the bust. He said the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department carried out the operation between 10am on July 22 and 3am on July 23 in the Central Seberang Perai district.
Police first arrested two local men in a hotel room in Bukit Mertajam. The Vietnamese courier was then arrested in the hotel lobby along with a quantity of cannabis.
Further investigations led officers to Seberang Jaya, where another local man was apprehended. He later led police to a house that had been turned into a drug storage facility, where a larger amount of cannabis buds was found.
The cannabis was packed into four suitcases and two colourful zip bags. Altogether, the haul weighed 112.1kg and had a street value of RM3.72 million.
Under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, police also seized assets from the suspects, including a Toyota Alphard (RM160,000), a Honda Civic (RM30,000), a Yamaha motorcycle (RM8,000), and RM1,300 in cash — bringing the total value of confiscated assets and drugs to RM3.93 million.