A cross-border drug trafficking syndicate has been detected using waters off Port Dickson as a maritime route to smuggle drugs into Indonesia via fibre boats, following two coordinated raids that led to seizures worth an estimated RM1.44 million.
The breakthrough came after police carried out operations in Kampung Kuala Lukut and Tanjung Agas at about 3am yesterday, based on intelligence gathered by the District Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division in Port Dickson with support from the Special Branch and the Marine Police Force.
Negeri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said in the first raid, two Indonesian men aged 30 and 34 were arrested onboard a fibre boat at the Kuala Lukut waters.
He said officers discovered 10 packages containing about 12kg of suspected syabu valued at around RM600,000 during the inspection.
In a broader context, maritime routes have increasingly been exploited by transnational drug syndicates, prompting tighter surveillance and joint operations by multiple enforcement agencies.
Authorities also seized the unregistered fibre boat believed to have been used in the smuggling activity.
In a follow-up operation, police spotted a Perodua Myvi at Tanjung Agas, but the driver fled the scene.
A high-speed chase ensued for about six kilometres before the suspect’s vehicle crashed in a palm oil plantation area in Pengkalan Kempas, Linggi, although the suspect managed to escape on foot.
Further inspection of the abandoned car uncovered 12 packages of suspected syabu weighing 14.4kg, valued at about RM744,000, along with 100 vape cartridges believed to contain ketamine worth about RM100,000.
Police said the suspect, a 42-year-old local man with multiple drug-related records, is believed to be the transporter for the syndicate.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, while efforts are ongoing to track down remaining suspects and dismantle the wider network.
