Mohd Mokhtar (centre) shows the seized heroin weighing 35kg, worth RM2.8 million in Bukit Aman. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: A Pakistani drug trafficking syndicate’s attempt to conceal heroin in a container and declaring them as animal food was foiled during a police raid last Saturday.
In the raid, Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and Special Tactical and Intelligence Narcotics Group (Sting,) seized heroin weighing 35kg, worth RM2.8 million, and detained 22 syndicate members.
Narcotics Criminal Investigation director, Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the raid was carried out around Desa Melawati at about 5.30pm.
“We raided several rows of shop houses where three containers were located nearby and found 33 packages containing brownish white powder suspected to be heroin hidden in 13 straw blocks in one of the containers.
“During the raid police arrested 10 Pakistanis and subsequently 12 more were nabbed when police conducted further raids in nearby residential areas,” he told reporters here yesterday.
According to Mohd Mokhtar the Pakistanis were, aged between 20 to 45 years, and eight of them had no valid travel documents.
He said the drugs smuggled through a port, were from Karachi, Pakistan and were believed to be for overseas markets.
However, he did not reveal the name and location of the port.
“We believe the syndicate has been active for the past one month. Those arrested will be remanded until August 1 for investigation under Section 39B of Dangrous Drugs Act 1952.
“We will also investigate to trace the mastermind behind this syndicate,” he said.
In a related development, Mohd Mokhtar said in the first seven months this year, various types of drugs worth RM168 million were seized. Some 101,574 individuals, including 3,963 foreigners were involved,” he added. — Bernama