Three raids in a day lead to seizure of drugs worth RM1.5m

GEORGE TOWN: Three raids in a day led police to take down a drug processing laboratory in Sungai Ara and the seizure of RM1.5million worth of narcotics on Tuesday.
Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said they also detained five men, aged between 27 to 53, during the raids at Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas and Butterworth.
He said police seized 24.75kg of heroin 3, 1.23kg of heroin 4 and 0.6kg of syabu in the raids.
Furthermore, he said a BMW, a Honda Civic, a Perodua Alza, a Proton Wira and a high-powered motorcycle, all worth some RM266,000, were seized.
He added an estimated RM1.09million in various currencies were sized, together with a watch and jewellery valued at RM84,000.
The group was believed to be active for the last six months and the drugs were for local distribution, he said.
"We believe these five suspects are related to the 04 and Sio Sam Ong secret societies," he told a press conference today.
Three of the suspects have records for drug related offences and all of them have been remanded until July 28 for investigations under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death sentence.
Police have detained 31 individuals and shut down 10 drug processing labs in Penang so far this year, he said.
"The value of drugs confiscated is around RM7.4million so far," he added.
On a separate case, he said police were waiting for the forensics report on the Wednesday incident where 36 motorcycles and six cars were damaged in a fire before further action.
On the police report lodged by Penang Gerakan Youth chief H'ng Chee Wey after receiving a death threat, he said police will investigate the case for criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication under the Penal Code.