KUALA TERENGGANU, June 21 — The police have arrested two brothers suspected of using their house in Kampung Duyong Besar here as a storage facility for drugs worth RM1.76 million.
Terengganu police chief Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairudin said the two, aged 39 and 50, were arrested together with about 22kg of suspected ganja buds during a raid at 3.30pm on Sunday (June 14) under Ops Tapis Khas.
"Initial investigations found that both suspects acted as storekeepers for a syndicate believed to have been active since March this year. The drug supply is believed to have been obtained from an international syndicate that smuggled it into the country via sea routes," he said during a media conference today.
Both suspects tested negative for drugs. The 50-year-old suspect has 13 previous drug-related offences, while his younger brother has no criminal record.
Khairi added that the drug supply, estimated to be sufficient for 44,000 addicts, was believed to be intended for the international market.
"Based on our investigations, the ganja buds were meant to be sent overseas. They would have been processed to extract liquid, which we believe is used as a flavouring for electronic cigarettes that can induce intoxication," he said.
The police also seized various assets worth RM149,000 during the raid, including a Hyundai Tucson, three motorcycles — a BMW, a Yamaha NVX, and a Yamaha 135LC — and RM6,000 in cash.
The remand period for the two brothers, which began on Monday (June 15) and ended today, has been extended by another seven days to facilitate further investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Khairi said that Ops Tapis Khas, conducted from June 12 to June 14, saw the arrest of 243 individuals for various drug-related offences, with 22.35kg of drugs worth RM1.79 million seized.
