Nigerian with 18 kg of cannabis arrested

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MAJOR DRUG HAUL: Baharom (centre) with the slabs of compressed cannabis seized from the Nigerian. — Bernama photo

JITRA: Kubang Pasu district police arrested a Nigerian man found with 18 slabs of compressed cannabis valued at RM45,000 in a raid at Lye Huat Garden near here on Tuesday.

Kedah Narcotics CID head Supt Baharom Othman said following a tip-off, police managed to nab the 22-year-old Nigerian at 9.30pm while he was carrying a black bag and walking towards an express bus.

“Sensing the presence of police, the suspect tried to flee and a struggle ensued between him and the policemen before he was arrested.

“On inspecting the bag, the police found 18 cannabis slabs believed to be weighing 18 kg, but a urine test conducted on the suspect found him to be free of drugs,” he told a news conference at the Kubang Pasu police headquarters here, yesterday.

Baharom said the suspect was believed to be taking the cannabis, which was obtained from Thailand, to a syndicate in Kuala Lumpur for the drug market there.

The suspect is also believed to be a student of a private college in Kuala Lumpur and was used as a drug mule for the drug syndicate.

Baharom said the suspect had entered Thailand through the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint on March 21, but there was no record of him re-entering Malaysia, so he could probably have re-entered through the border ‘rat hole’.

The suspect is being remanded for seven days from today for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty. — Bernama