GEORGE TOWN: Penang police busted a marijuana distribution syndicate following the arrest of three individuals including a woman and seizure of nearly 26 kilogrammes (kg) of the drug worth RM79,680 during a raid in Gelugor here yesterday. State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the suspects aged between 19 and 49 were apprehended by a team from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) while they were in a parking area between 4.45 pm and midnight.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, during the inspection, police discovered a box labeled ‘Thailand’ containing 20 slabs of drugs wrapped in red paper, suspected to be cannabis, weighing about 20,696 grammes (20.696 kg). Also seized was a black bag containing another five slabs of cannabis weighing 5,225 gm (5.225 kg) bringing the total estimated value of the seizure to RM79,680.
Hamzah added that intelligence indicated the syndicate has been active in drug trafficking since mid-year and the seized drugs could potentially supply 60,000 users. He sa
id all the suspects tested negative in urine screening and a review of their criminal records revealed prior offences related to drugs.
“The suspects have been remanded for seven days from today until Nov 8 to assist investigation of the case under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries a mandatory death sentence,” he said.