05/08/2025

TUESDAY | AUG 5, 2025

5

Police seize 439kg drugs, arrest suspect during raid

Entry permit enforcement operation issues 1,400 summonses

nationals to assist in an investigation into the theft of money from several foreign tourists who are believed to have been “put under a spell” ( pukau ) in incidents at hotspots around the city centre. Penang acting police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the three men and two women, including a married couple and all aged between 19 and 35, were detained at the Gurney Plaza area under Op Tourist. “Between July 30 and Aug 1, we received three police reports of cash thefts involving tourists from Taiwan, the Netherlands and Syria, aged between 29 and 52, in the Pulau Tikus and Jalan Penang areas. “Acting on information, a team KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) has urged federal authorities to impose a total ban on the sale and use of vape and electronic cigarettes, warning that anything less would fail to protect public health. Its senior vice-chairman Datuk Seri Ayub Yaakob said the move is crucial to prevent long-term health risks, particularly among youth and minors who are increasingly exposed to these harmful products. “MCPF fully supports the Health Ministry’s efforts to completely ban the sale and use of electronic cigarettes or vapes nationwide.” Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad previously said the ministry is working towards a complete ban on the sale and use of electronic cigarettes or vapes in Malaysia. He reportedly said the proposed ban would take into account various factors, including scientific evidence, cases of e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury, legal considerations, industry and economic impact, as well as KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested a man and seized 439.7kg of syabu and ketamine worth over RM17 million in a raid on a house in Sri Hartamas here. Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the 2.10pm raid conducted recently followed a month-long o Operation executed after month-long intelligence operation: Narcotics Crime Investigation Dept

JOHOR BAHRU: The Road Transport Department issued 1,489 summonses totalling RM445,800 during an enforcement operation on Vehicle Entry Permits (VEP) at the Malaysia-Singapore land border between July 1 and Saturday. Its Enforcement senior director Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said during that period, 14,379 Singapore-registered vehicles were inspected outside the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complexes, namely the Sultan Iskandar Building and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex, as well as in Johor Bahru. “Of the 1,489 owners or drivers who were summoned, most were found to have failed to instal and activate the VEP RFID tag. “One of the common excuses given was that they believed the Malaysian government had not yet begun enforcement and it was still in the advocacy stage. “Of all the summonses issued, only one individual initially refused to cooperate. However, when enforcement officers wanted to seize the vehicle, the person complied, settled the summons and proceeded to register for the VEP,” he told a press conference after the Special VEP Enforcement Operation at the Sultan Iskandar Building exit ramp in Bukit Chagar on Sunday. Muhammad Kifli said findings showed that nearly 90% of Singapore-registered private vehicles had obtained the VEP by installing and activating the RFID tag. As of Thursday, 277,930 RFID tags had been issued to Singaporean vehicle owners, involving private individuals and companies. Foreign-registered vehicles entering the country without a valid VEP risk a RM300 fine as stipulated under Section 66H(7) of the Road Transport Act 1987. – Bernama individuals under Section 39C(1) of the same Act between January and July.” He also said over 120kg of various drugs worth RM2 million, seized between 2010 and 2024, were disposed of yesterday in collaboration with waste management company Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd. He said the drugs involved 5,265 investigation papers from five districts in Penang. “We disposed of 19.75kg of monoacetylmorphine, and heroin 53.57kg of ganja , 2.87kg of ketamine, 42.61kg of methamphetamine and 2.08kg of various psychotropic pills.” – Bernama

syndicate with the arrest of four individuals, including three Vietnamese, in an apartment in Taman Kuchai Entrepreneurs on Thursday. He said during the noon raid, police found eight boxes containing 91 transparent plastic packets suspected to hold ganja flowers, weighing 42.3kg. “The syndicate’s modus operandi was to use the apartment as a storage site before distributing the drugs locally and abroad. “The suspects, aged between 26 and 30, comprised a local man, and one male and two female Vietnamese. They were detained under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and have been remanded for seven days,” he said.

land routes from a neighbouring country by the syndicate. We believe the suspect received instructions from someone to deliver the drugs when there was a demand. “Checks on his criminal record revealed one offence related to weapons while a urine test showed that he was not a drug user. He has been remanded for six days to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said. He added that during the raid, police seized two cars, three wristwatches and various pieces of jewellery worth RM93,350, bringing the total value of the seizure to RM17.9 million. In a separate case, Hussein said police busted a ganja distribution

from the northeast district police headquarters Criminal Investigation Division, Pulau Tikus police station and central police station conducted an operation and detained the suspects,” he said in a statement on Sunday. He added that police seized multiple foreign currencies, two vehicles and a packet of ganja . Mohd Alwi said preliminary urine tests revealed that two suspects tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol. He said the group’s modus operandi was to target foreign tourists by approaching them for a conversation before allegedly asking them to reveal the cash in their possession. “The suspects would then discreetly take the money and leave enforcement feasibility. Ayub expressed concern that failure to act swiftly could lead to further public health crises, including the risk of addiction and the misuse of vape as a vehicle for drug consumption. He also urged the ministry to strengthen regulation through the effective implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024. “Regular monitoring must be carried out to detect illegal online vape sales targeting youth,” he said. MCPF called for coordinated enforcement by agencies, including the Customs Department, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and police, to crack down on the supply and sale of smuggled cigarettes. It also proposed that awareness campaigns on the dangers of vaping be intensified across mainstream and social media, with youth leaders, influencers and medical professionals playing a more important role in sharing accurate information on vaping-associated health risks. – Bernama intelligence operation. The seizure is one of the largest made by police this year. He said a search of the terrace house uncovered 224 packets of syabu weighing about 234kg and 200 plastic packets containing ketamine weighing about 205.7kg, with the total drug value estimated at RM17.78 million. “The 30-year-old suspect acted as a coordinator and transporter for the drug syndicate, earning between RM6,500 and RM7,000 a month.” Hussein said preliminary investigations showed that the syndicate had used the rented house as a storage facility before distributing the drugs to the local market, Bernama reported. “All the drugs were brought in via

Authorities urged to ban sale of vape, e-cigarettes

Ayub expressed concern that failure to act swiftly could lead to further public health crises, including the risk of addiction and the misuse of vape as a vehicle for drug consumption. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Foreigners held over tourist thefts GEORGE TOWN: Police have arrested five Middle Eastern

RM33m narcotics confiscated this year in Penang

the scene. It is reported that the victims would only realise that their money was gone after the suspects had left,” he said. He said the suspects have been remanded for four days and the case is being investigated under sections 379 and 380 of the Penal Code and sections 6 and 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Alwi said they are committed to ensuring the safety of locals and tourists, and advised the public to be vigilant when dealing with unknown individuals, as well as to safeguard their valuables at all times. He added that anyone with information can contact the Penang Criminal Investigation Department Operations Room at 04-222 1624 or the nearest police station. – Bernama

KEPALA BATAS: Penang police seized an assortment of drugs worth RM33.82 million in operations and raids conducted across the state between January and July. Acting chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said 14,146 individuals were arrested for various drug-related offences in Penang during the same period. “A total of 14,146 individuals were arrested for offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, including 4,498 cases involving drug trafficking and possession. Of these, 4,170 cases have been brought to court. “Some 7,938 investigations were carried out under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and action was taken against 251