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GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) got its biggest drug loot yet when they thwarted an attempt to smuggle RM105.9k worth of methamphetamine into the country.
MMEA Director General Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the raid took place after a team of MMEA personnel on a routine Ops Pertiwi patrol detected a suspicious-looking recreational boat near Pulau Kendi manned by a suspect around 11.30am on Wednesday (Dec. 9).
“The patrol team approached the boat and ordered the suspect to stop, however he tried to escape,” Mohd Zubil said.
He said this resulted in a 30-minute boat chase.
Mohd Zubil said the 26-year-old suspect jumped into the sea in an attempt to escape, but was apprehended around 11:55 a.m. Wednesday 5.3 nautical miles south of Pulau Kendi, where his boat was detained.
Mohd Zubil said that during the arrest, MMEA staff seized 2,118 kg of methamphetamine packaged in 1,998 packages of Chinese tea that were kept in 130 yellow sacks.
He added that the loot was the largest drug bust carried out by MMEA in its 16-year history.
He said a 12.4-meter boat used by the suspect, valued at RM150,000, was also seized.
He said the suspect has been in pretrial detention for seven days to facilitate investigations under Section 39 (b) of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952.
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