GEORGE TOWN: The MMEA scored its biggest drug haul in its 13 years of operations when it seized 2,118kg of methamphetamine worth RM105.9 million here last week.
The agency also detained a man and a boat, 5.3 nautical miles south of Pulau Kendi, near Teluk Kumbar, on Wednesday.
MMEA director-general Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the agency spotted the boat, operated by the suspect, in Pulau Kendi waters at 11.30am.
“MMEA’s patrol vessel followed the recreation boat closely before demanding it to stop.
“The suspect ignored the order and sped off. After a 30-minute chase, he jumped into the sea, with the boat continuing to move unmanned.
“MMEA enforcement officers later arrested the 26-year-old man and stopped the boat,” he told a press conference.
He said upon inspection, 130 sacks containing 1,998 packets of Chinese tea, filled with methamphetamine weighing 2,118kg worth RM105.9 million, were found. They are believed to have been brought in from Indonesia.
Zubil said further investigations showed the man would pick up the drugs in international waters and was paid between RM5,000 and RM10,000 for each consignment.
“Our investigations also found that the unemployed man had come to Sungai Juru in another boat and headed for international waters before changing his boat with the one containing the drugs.
“His boat would then be piloted by the other party, also part of the drug trafficking syndicate, back to the source country,” he said.
According to Zubil, the man admitted that this was the third time he was doing it, with the first and second trips in October and November, involving various types of drugs weighing 1,000kg.
He said all the seized drugs were believed to be distributed to the syndicate’s network, which included Thailand, as the market price there was thrice the price in Malaysia.
“This success is also the biggest haul in 13 years’ of MMEA operations,” he said.
The man had been remanded for seven days and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.