Syndicate trafficking drugs in fire extinguishers, in freezer lorry busted

JOHOR BAHRU: A drug trafficking syndicate using modified fire extinguishers in refrigerated lorry to smuggle drugs to a neighbouring country has been foiled with the arrest of nine individuals in separate raids around the city here yesterday.

Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the operation conducted from 1.20 pm to 2 pm involved the arrest of seven local men, a local woman and an Indonesian man, all aged between 26 and 40.

Also seized were various drugs such as ganja, syabu and heroin as well as eight vehicles, cash money and jewellery worth a total of RM400,176.20.

"The modus operandi of the syndicate is to smuggle drugs to a neighbouring country and they were believed to have been operating for about three months," said Ayob Khan in a statement today.

The operation involved Bukit Narcotics CID and Johor CID carried out with the shared information of the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore.

Ayob Khan said urine screening found one suspect was positive for methamphetamine while three others have past criminal records.

They were remanded for seven days from today and the case would be investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

-- BERNAMA