Cops cripple drug syndicate, seize nearly RM500k in drugs

GEORGE TOWN:The police have crippled the network of a drug syndicate with the seizure of RM488,600 worth of narcotics and an arrest of a 43-year-old man believed to be a mastermind at a condominium unit in Pulau Tikus.
State police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said the man was believed to be renting the unit for the past four months where he would see the processed syabu drug to a middleman, who would then smuggle it to a neighbouring country.
During the raid, Chuah revealed that three packets of syabu weighing 6.98kg were seized along with jewellery, a Rolex watch, three high-powered motorcycles, a car and few bank accounts been frozen.
"The value of confiscated items were estimated to be at RM294,989, " he told a press conference.
The condominium was believed to be used as a storeroom to stash the syabu drugs before it was smuggled across.
Chuah also said that the man tested positive during a routine urine test and he was remanded until next Monday.
Meanwhile in Kepala Batas, police arrested three men, who were suspected to be robbing highway users at the rest and recreation station (R&R) near the Sungai Dua toll booth here.
North Seberang Prai district police chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said that a police team led by the district's Serious Crime Department chief ASP Mohd Yusof Ibrahim held an operation called Ops Cantas.
They detained the three suspects at three areas, where are Sungai Lokan, Sungai Dua and Butterworth, about 12.10pm on Oct 9.
According to Noorzainy, the trio suspects, aged between 24 and 28-year-old, had targeted car drivers who were resting at the Sungai Dua R & R area.
They will come astride motorcycles to get close to the vehicles and they use a modified tool to smash the left side of the victims cars' front windshields and grab valuable items such as bags and laptops, and fled away.
To date, seven motorists have fallen victims to the trip, who have earned the nickname as the "highway robbers."
Noorzainy said that the suspects had previous criminal records.
They have since been remanded until Oct 23 to facilitate the investigation.
Noorzainy also said the police are looking for a 20-year-old man to assist in the investigation.
In another case, the police also arrested two men who had allegedly broken into six houses and offices near here.
The police had detained the duo aged 31 and 34-year-old respectively at Kampung Jawa here about 10pm on Oct 4.
They seized two smartphones, a branded printer, two computer monitors, an MP3 play system, a camera, nine laptops, and two sewing machines as well as a desktop worth around RM50,000.