Drug Traffickers Use Strategic Points In Malaysian Waters

Jim Finnel

Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
NILAI: Drug trafficking syndicates hard hit by constant raids by the authorities have changed their tactic. They are now picking up the drugs at strategic points at sea.

In the latest raid near Kuala Perlis on Sunday, Customs officers found 10kg of ganja worth RM40,000 which was placed in a plastic container and tied to a bamboo pole planted in the sea bed near the Malaysian-Thai border.

The area was in Malaysian waters and some 20 nautical miles from the nearest Malaysian landmark.

The nearest Thai landmark was Brasman Island, some 30 nautical miles away.

The plastic container was wrapped with a garbage bag to ensure it remained afloat even at high tide.

The raiding party waited for five hours but no one came to collect the drug.

Customs deputy director Mohd Subri Awang said although the amount seized was not big, he believed that this was the syndicates’ new tactic to escape their dragnet.

“We received a tip off at 1.15am on Sunday and sent out a patrol unit to the Malaysia-Thailand border area near Kuala Perlis.

“We saw the black garbage bag and, when we checked its contents, we found the ganja,” he said during a press conference at the Customs narcotic branch headquarters.

He said that the ganja most probably originated from the golden triangle.

Mohd Subri said Customs department believed that the drug syndicates had been using the tactic for some time as it was the easiest way to smuggle in smaller quantities of drugs.

“The syndicates can also bring it in fishing boats or sampan since there are many fishermen in the area,” he said, adding that he did not rule out the possibility of some fishermen working with the syndicates as they were familiar with the sea near the Thai border.

Mohd Subri said without the public’s help, the enforcement agencies would not be able to effectively check drug smuggling and distribution activities.

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Source: The Star Online
Copyright: 2008 Star Publications
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Website: Drug traffickers use strategic points in Malaysian waters
 
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