KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — A senior enforcement officer and his subordinate were among 11 men detained by police for suspected involvement in a RM14 million international drug smuggling syndicate.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin said the suspects comprising four Nigerians, one Indian national and six locals aged between 22 and 58 were rounded up in raids around Taman Desa in Jalan Klang Lama, Brickfields and Jalan Pudu here, and Nilai and Seremban in Negri Sembilan on Saturday and yesterday.

He said police seized 68.68 kg of methamphetamine, 9.7 kg of heroin, 25.3 kg of caffeine, a CZ pistol and magazine as well as 30 bullets, RM34,950 cash and two vehicles.   

“It is very sad that these enforcement officers who should be helping to curb the menace were instead helping the syndicate to smuggle in drugs into the country,” he told a media conference at the Bukit Aman Royal Malaysian Police headquarters here today.

Declining to elaborate on the two officers, Mohd Bakri said the syndicate carried out their modus operandi through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

“The drug mules upon arriving at KLIA would leave the airport without claiming their luggage and stay in a nearby hotel.

“They will then contact KLIA to send the luggage to their hotel,” he said.

Police believed the syndicate had been active since last year. — Bernama