JOHOR BARU: Police have busted a drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of four individuals here, including a family of three.

       This “family enterprise” mirrors another drug-related incident last month where a former diplomat and his son were detained after more than 100 cannabis plants were found at the former’s home in Pahang, along with dried cannabis leaves and a bottle of cannabis extract.

       In the Johor case this week, Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said police carried out the raids between Tuesday and Wednesday.

       “Police arrested a 36-year-old man and his parents aged between 70 and 73 at a house in Taman Century here at around 3.30pm Tuesday.

       “Their arrest then led us to the fourth suspect, who is a 36-year-old resident in Taman Mount Austin, at around 5.50pm on Wednesday,” he said at a press conference at the state police headquarters here yesterday.

       During the raids, police seized various drugs, including 14.3kg of ecstasy powder, 4.06kg of ketamine, 6,440 Erimin 5 pills and 10,291 ecstasy pills, valued at RM1.2mil.

       Comm Kamarul Zaman said the syndicate sold the drugs in beverage packages at up to RM250 per package.

       “This syndicate sells the drugs at entertainment centres around here.

       “Besides the drugs, police also seized four cars, a motorcycle, RM41,093 in cash and jewellery, with a total value of RM206,193,” he said, adding that all four suspects were remanded for seven days under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.

       In an unrelated matter, Comm Kamarul Zaman rubbished a report by a Singapore portal that listed seven of the “most unsafe areas” in Johor Baru. It advised people to avoid travelling there.

       “When the borders reopened on April 1, I placed 1,600 personnel and officers at 41 known major public areas throughout Johor to safeguard the people.

       “So far, not a single foreign traveller that has come to Johor has lodged a police report saying he is a victim of crime,” said Comm Kamarul Zaman, who added that such reporting was irresponsible.

       “The police have always received good cooperation from the state government to combat and lower the crime rate in Johor,” he said, before revealing that police arrested a Singaporean couple recently for domestic violence.

       Comm Kamarul Zaman said that police received a report on Tuesday morning about a Singaporean woman who was stabbed with a knife at an apartment in Taman Mount Austin.

       “The couple were renting a unit at the apartment to stay for a few days. However, they got into a heated argument and the 34-year-old male suspect then stabbed his 29-year-old girlfriend in the right butt cheek.

       “Checks on the suspect and victim found that both tested positive for drugs,” he said adding that the couple have since been charged in court.