KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Following a year’s absence, Iran-based syndicates have once again begun targeting Malaysia to supply drugs to the addict population.
The federal police intelligence network has revealed that for this purpose, over the past three months, Iranian drug couriers have been making a bee-line to the country.
Early this month, Bukit Aman police ‘iced’ an international drug distribution syndicate when they detained three Iranians and seized syabu (ice) worth about RM3.16 million.
One of the suspects was detained at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on May 5. Two days later, the police seized six gunny sacks containing 536,050 psychotropic pills in a cargo shipment which had just arrived from Pakistan at the KLIA.
On May 9, two other suspects were picked up at a condominium in Bukit Kerinchi here. A drug-processing laboratory was also uncovered at the condominium. Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said syabu weighing two kilogrammes were found in special compartments in the suspect’s two-wheeled suitcases at the KLIA arrival hall at 3.45pm.
He said at the condominium, two other Iranians were nabbed before a box filled with six circular green-coloured glasses filled with liquid syabu weighing 1.3kg, and 25kg of whitish powder believed to be drugs were also seized.
“A tin of liquid acetone weighing 17 litres, seven bottles of liquid toulene, two glass jars and drug-making paraphernalia were also found,” he said, adding that RM13,800, US$2,100 (RM6,794) and 1.26 million Iranian Rial (RM159) were also seized during the raid.
Noor Rashid said the suspects, aged between 23 and 42, could have known one another but moved separately to avoid detection.
“We believe the drugs were intended for the local market,” he added.
The Iranians have been remanded for one week to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the death penalty upon conviction. — Bernama
