Two Indonesian men have been arrested after marine police intercepted a fibre boat carrying RM6.12 million worth of methamphetamine bound for Indonesia in the waters off Pulau Rimau, Penang.
The Region One Marine Police Force (PPM) foiled the smuggling bid during Op Taring Gelora on 17 July, following intelligence from the Marine Intelligence Unit (URM) on the movements of a fibreglass boat believed to be used by an international drug syndicate, The Star reported.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said patrol boats PSC 60 and PSC 45 were deployed to track the vessel, which was detected behaving suspiciously about seven nautical miles south of Pulau Rimau.
“When ordered to stop for inspection, the suspects sped off and carried out dangerous manoeuvres in an attempt to evade arrest,” Malay Mail quoted Mohd Yusri as saying at a press conference at the Region One Marine Police Headquarters in Batu Uban.
The team pursued the boat for nearly 30 minutes before ramming the rear of the vessel, successfully intercepting it and arresting the two suspects aged 30 and 51.
A search of the fibreglass boat uncovered 113.776kg of methamphetamine, commonly known as syabu, concealed in a specially built compartment at the bow and packed in Chinese tea packets. The drugs are estimated to be worth RM5.69 million.
Police also seized 3,497 electronic cigarette cartridges containing 6.3kg of liquid methamphetamine valued at RM315,000. The fibre boat used by the syndicate was confiscated, bringing the total value of the haul to RM6.12 million.
Mohd Yusri said the two suspects are believed to have acted as maritime couriers, ferrying drug consignments from Malaysia to Indonesia using a locally registered fibreglass boat. Investigations revealed each was paid RM10,000 for every successful delivery.
The seizure prevented crystal methamphetamine sufficient to supply more than 570,000 addicts from reaching the market. The liquid drugs in the vape cartridges could have supplied an estimated 31,500 users.
Both men have been remanded for seven days to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
Mohd Yusri said the case stressed the continued use of Malaysia’s maritime routes by international drug trafficking syndicates. The force would continue strengthening intelligence gathering, sea patrols and enforcement to detect cross-border smuggling at an early stage.
As of June this year, Op Taring Gelora conducted by the Region One Marine Police in Penang had recorded 337 cases, nine arrests and seizures worth RM226,150. Across all operations during the same period, a total of 361 cases were recorded with 49 arrests and seizures valued at RM10.44 million.
