GEORGE TOWN, Aug 28 — A husband and wife were among seven people arrested in several operations by the Penang Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) this month, with drugs worth more than RM3.2 million seized.

Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim said the couple were among four people arrested in an operation in Tanjung Tokong between August 15 and 16, Sinar Harian reported.

He said the four comprised three local men and a local woman aged between 23 and 35.

“During the operation, police seized 38.3kg of cannabis powder, 11.47kg of cannabis flower, 4,004 Erimin 5 pills, 14kg of methamphetamine, 5kg of ketamine and 16kg of ecstasy pills.

“All the drugs seized were estimated to be worth more than RM1.17 million and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said at a press conference at the Penang Contingent Police Headquarters here today.

Dennis said all four suspects were remanded for 13 days from August 16 to 28 to assist investigations.

In a separate operation, a team from the Seberang Perai Utara District Police Headquarters’ Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division arrested a 23-year-old local man in Butterworth at about 6pm on August 15.

He said a search led to the seizure of about 3kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) powder worth more than RM450,000.

“The suspect was remanded for five days from August 16 to 20 before being released on bail on the instructions of the deputy public prosecutor pending the chemical analysis report,” he said.

Following this, police arrested a 46-year-old local man at about 10pm in Butterworth on August 19.

“Police seized about 1.3kg of MDMA powder worth more than RM10,000 from the suspect.

“The suspect was remanded for six days from August 20 to 25,” he said.

Meanwhile, at about 10.50pm on August 22, police from the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters’ Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division arrested a 28-year-old local man in Bukit Mertajam.

Dennis said police seized 8.4kg of MDMA powder, 1,755 ecstasy pills, 1,000 Erimin 5 pills, 0.63kg of ketamine and nine cartridges of liquid methamphetamine, with a total estimated value of more than RM1.38 million.

“The suspect was remanded for seven days from August 23 to 29 for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

“Intelligence showed that all the suspects are believed to have been actively involved in drug trafficking around Penang since May. Urine screening found four suspects positive for morphine, amphetamine and methamphetamine.

“Checks of past records found that five suspects had previous criminal and narcotics records,” he said.

He added that police also seized items estimated to be worth RM89,000 under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988.

“This success was the result of continuous intelligence gathering by JSJN and cooperation from the public. The Royal Malaysia Police will not compromise with anyone involved in drug trafficking.

“Members of the public with information on drug trafficking activities can channel it through the JSJN hotline at 012-208 7222,” he said.