BAGAN DATUK: In a massive three-day operation codenamed Ops Tapis Bersepadu Khas Hilir Perak, police together with the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (Sting) arrested 151 individuals including a French citizen and five drug dealers here.
The operation which ended today was aimed at combating drug dealing activities and the smuggling of illicit goods around the Bagan Datuk and Hutan Melintang areas.
A total of 318 officers and personnel from Sting, the state Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) were involved.
Hilir Perak police chief ACP Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad said the police checked 452 individuals from various countries and 152 local men before arresting 151 of them in the operation.
He said 47 detained suspects included a 35-year-old civil servant and a French citizen in his 30s, both of whom were involved in drug abuse activities. Meanwhile, another 102 were detained under Immigration Act.
“The civil servant has previous criminal records related to drugs and police also found 1.28g of heroin and 19.13g of methamphetamine.
“The French man and his partner, a local man in his 50s, were detained at a boat repairing workshop at Parit 6, Sungai Nipah, here. They are believed to be in possession of 1.9kg of marijuana,” he said at a press conference at the Hutan Melintang Police Station.
Wan Hassan said the operation also saw the team confiscating drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, ketum and marijuana which are believed to be valued at RM2,929.
He said a Toyota Estima multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), believed to be with a fake Singaporean registration was also seized.
“Customs also impounded 974 can of alcoholic beverages believed to be smuggled from foreign countries in a road block.
“The total value of the seized items is valued at RM1,243.06 with tax costs of RM5,307.78,” he said.