GEORGE TOWN: Police here busted a syabu trafficking syndicate with the arrest of six members of a family and seized syabu worth nearly RM300,000 in Seberang Prai.

       During the operation, six people aged between 36 and 64 years old were arrested in three separate raids, and all six are related to each other.

       Penang Narcotics Crime Investigations Department chief Asst Comm Mohd Shukhairy Abd Sabhe said the suspects were detained in three raids in different districts of Seberang Prai on May 18 between 6pm to 9.50pm.

       "In the first raid at Sungai Bakap, a 38-year-old man, believed to be the leader of the syndicate, was arrested at the roadside," said ACP Mohd Shukhairy.

       He added that the man was found with packets of a substance believed to be syabu, saying that the packets weighed about 6.211kg and are worth approximately RM223,596.

       ACP Mohd Shukhairy then said at a press conference at the state police headquarters on Monday (May 23) that police personnel then arrested two couples at a raid on a Bukit Tengah house.

       He added that two plastic packets with a substance believed to be syabu were seized, and said that the packets weighed 2.076kg and are worth approximately RM74,736.

       ACP Mohd Shukhairy said that police then raided a house in north Seberang Prai and arrested a 34-year-old woman believed to be involved in the syndicate.

       He said that the investigation has determined that the syndicate has been active since May 2021 and has been distributing drugs for local distribution, adding that the drugs seized could be used by more than 40,000 drug addicts.

       ACP Mohd Shukhairy said police also seized four vehicles worth RM92,000 and jewellery items worth RM27,204.26 from the raids.

       "Checks found that only one of the suspects has a criminal record with a prior drug offence," he said, adding that drug tests conducted on all suspects turned up negative.

       He said the leader of the syndicate and three of the suspects that were arrested were remanded for six days beginning from May 19 until 24 while the remaining two suspects were remanded for seven days.

       The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.