KUALA LUMPUR: Nine officers and staffers from an enforcement agency as well as a fisherman have been detained for drug trafficking.

       It is believed the suspects from the enforcement agency would sell syabu seized in operations to a syndicate before the drugs were smuggled to Indonesia.

       “We believe they sold some 50kg of syabu that was seized in an operation along the Strait of Malacca to a drug syndicate based in northern Peninsular Malaysia.

       “The drugs were then distributed to another syndicate based in Banting, Selangor, which attempted to smuggle them for the market in Dumai, Indonesia,” said Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

       “Drug syndicates prefer to smuggle syabu to Indonesia as it is much more expensive there. In Malaysia, syabu is priced at RM36,000 per kg but in Indonesia, it is RM100,000.

       “Syabu is also more expensive in Australia with 1kg priced at RM300,000,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

       Comm Ayob Khan said the suspects, aged between 33 and 49, were detained in three raids held in Johor Baru and Putrajaya from March 6 to 8.

       No compromise: Comm Ayob stresses that justice will be served when dealing with traffickers. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

       “We managed to seize 5.3kg of syabu worth RM193,590 during the raids.

       “The drugs could have been supplied to 26.8 million addicts,” he added.

       Four vehicles and cash worth RM190,000 were also seized.

       Comm Ayob said the enforcement agency personnel were based in Putrajaya, with accomplices in Johor Baru.

       Initial investigations revealed that they had been active since last month, he added.

       He said those detained had been remanded until March 20, and four from the enforcement agency also tested positive for methamphetamine.

       Comm Ayob Khan added that the NCID would investigate further to uncover whether there were other enforcement personnel involved in such drug trafficking activities.

       “We will not compromise in taking action against those involved in drug trafficking, even if they are from government agencies.

       “Justice will be served without fear or favour,” he added.

       He urged those with information on drug trafficking to contact the NCID hotline at 012-2087222.