TUMPAT: Police have seized 494kg of ganja worth RM1.2mil in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Kampung Lampor, Wakaf Baru, here after chasing the vehicle for five kilometres.

       Kelantan deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Abdullah Muhammad Piah said a patrol team spotted a vehicle being driven in a suspicious manner at about 9.50pm at Jalan Kampung Pasir Puteh, Chabang Empat, here, on Friday.

       He said the driver was ordered to stop the vehicle but he refused and sped off instead, leading the police to give chase.

       SAC Abdullah said the suspect lost control of the vehicle, causing it to skid and plunge into an irrigation canal.

       “The suspect then tried to escape with the help of a passing motorcyclist.

       “We managed to stop the motorcycle, but the suspect immediately fled to a nearby bush,” he told a press conference at the Tumpat District Police Headquarters here yesterday.

       SAC Abdullah said checks on the vehicles found 494 packages containing compressed dried leaves suspected to be ganja.

       Each package was estimated to weigh 1kg and was worth RM2,500, he said adding that the drugs were believed to have been brought into the state from a neighbouring country.

       SAC Abdullah added that all the drugs were also believed to be meant for distribution in the Klang Valley and could be used by 988,000 addicts.

       “The 25-year-old motorcyclist has been arrested to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (for drugs trafficking),” SAC Abdullah said. — Bernama