KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — Bukit Aman’s Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) busted two drug syndicates with the arrest of two men, including a Venezuelan last Friday.

In the two operations conducted police seized cocaine, weighing 2.8kg and methamphetamine weighing 120.65kg, worth close to RM25 million and arrested a 62-year-old Venezuelan national and a local resident aged 24 years.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Department (JSJN) director, Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the team also seized a car worth RM10,000.

“At 3pm Friday, police raided the baggage claim area at the arrival hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sepang and apprehended a Venezuelan citizen who had just arrived.

“The cocaine was hidden under thin layers of boxes which were packed in a bag carried by the suspect,” he told a press conference here, today.

Mohd Mokhtar said police would investigate whether this country was used as a transit point by the syndicate to smuggle drugs from other countries for international market.

Meanwhile, in another operation conducted from 2.30pm to 11.15pm on the same day, police arrested a local resident at Mutiara Complex, Jalan Ipoh.

“The man was suspected of smuggling methamphetamine from China into the country through a courier service company. Police found methamphetamine filled in 12 transparent plastic bags placed in six boxes.

“Also seized was a Proton Wira used for distributing the drugs,” he said.

He said the two suspects were remanded until July 3 and the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The success of both operations was attributed to the close cooperation and information sharing between STING, Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau (PNSB) Thailand and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Singapore.

On drug seizure statistics from January to June 25 this year, Mohd Mokhtar said the total value of seizure was about RM130.93 million, comprising methamphetamine (613.03kg), ketamine (31.39kg), ecstasy (376,868 tablets), yaba pills (149,559 pieces) and erimin 5 (1,512,734 pieces).

“During the period, 89,443 people were arrested comprising 9,404 drug suppliers, in possession of drugs (20,684 people) and urine tested positive (59.355 people).

“Police also smashed 19 drug labs and arrested 53 people during the period.

In addition, a total of 446 people were detained under special preventive measures,” he added. — Bernama