Three Chinese nationals, believed to be chemists for an international drug syndicate, were charged today at the magistrate’s court here with trafficking 26,025 grams of methamphetamine.
No pleas were recorded from Zhang Mea, 32; Chen Cheng, 36; and Xie Zhouji, 38, when the charge was read to them in Mandarin by a court interpreter before Magistrate Nadratun Naim Mohd Saidi, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. All three nodded to indicate they understood the charges and potential penalties.
The accused are alleged to have committed the offence at a unit in the Adorna Gold Complex on Jalan Gurdwara at around 10pm on Dec 20.
The charge, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Danial Ahmad Saidi said no bail was offered and requested the court to set a date pending the chemist report. Magistrate Nadratun fixed Feb 25 for mention and for the attendance of a Mandarin interpreter, reiterating that bail is not allowed.
The arrests followed a major operation by the Federal Police Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID), which seized approximately 1.2 tonnes of methamphetamine worth nearly RM38 million in coordinated raids on Dec 20 and 21.
Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, NCID director, said the syndicate, active since August, had used Malaysia as a hub to process methamphetamine for both local and international markets. Police discovered a large-scale drug lab within a durian orchard on Jalan Teluk Bahang, about 500 metres from the main road, secured with three layers of doors and CCTV cameras.
