GEORGETOWN: The Penang Customs Department arrested five Indonesian men and seized from them 22.067kg of drugs worth RM3.17 million in a raid at the Perai Dock, Seberang Perai.
Its director, Datuk Mohd Pudzi Man said in the 5pm raid, a team from the Penang Customs Marine Unit arrested the five men, aged between 30 and 54, and inspected the Indonesian-registered boat.
“The boat had actually been given port clearance to return to Indonesia on Sept 1. Under the Customs Act, all boats given port clearance should leave within 24 hours.
“However, until Sept 8 the group still had not left with their boat, giving rise to suspicion, hence the Customs action.”
He said the men were loading used goods into the boat when the Customs team pounced on them. Upon inspection of the boat with the help of sniffer dogs from the Customs narcotics unit, the raiding team found 19 packages hidden in the side of the boat.
Mohd Pudzi said 10 of the packages were found to contain methamphetamine weighing 10.747kg, eight packages containing ecstasy weighing 11.32kg, and another containing a Norinco semi-automatic pistol 9mm, a magazine and 31 live bullets.
He said based on the boat’s sailing record, it was the fourth time that it had entered Malaysia since June last year.
The seven men are being remanded for 14 days until Sept 22 for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Mohd Pudzi urged the public to channel information on any smuggling activity they know about, whether involving drugs, cigarettes, liquor or firecrackers by contacting the Customs toll-free line 1-800-88-8855.
He said the informants’ identity would be kept confidential while a cash reward could be considered for information that resulted in the success of an enforcement case. — Bernama
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