SHAH ALAM: Police on Monday arrested a couple and seized 38 ganja plants which they were growing inside their condominium in Puchong, near here.
The husband and wife, aged 29 and 31, who run an online cosmetics business, were believed to have studied how to grow the drugs using special equipment, all from the internet.
Selangor deputy police chief Datuk Ab Rashid Ab Wahab said the couple was detained by a police team in Seri Kembangan about 5pm Monday, before they led the cops to their condo.
"Police were acting on a tip-off when they stopped the couple's Perodua Myvi, before checks on the husband yielded a packet of ganja amounting 8.99g.
"Following the arrests, the suspects led police to their condominium unit in Puchong, where the raiding team found not only a larger amount of compressed ganja, but also 38 ganja plants.
"The plants were put in the unit's balcony and inside a room, which had a temperature control device installed. Police also found special lighting equipment and fertiliser specially formulated for the plant there," he told a press conference at the state police headquarters, here this morning.
Also arrested with the couple was another man, aged 22, believed to be their relative. The third suspect was at the condominium unit when police raided the place.
Ab Rashid said police's initial investigation revealed that it was the suspects' first attempt at growing ganja, believed to be meant for the local black market once they are ready for harvesting.
Police estimated that the ganja plants seized were between five and six-months-old.
The three suspects were among 14 men and four women who were detained in a series of raids by the Selangor police Narcotics Department in the Klang Valley between Saturday and Tuesday.
Ab Rashid said police seized a total of 33.4kg of compressed ganja from the suspects, estimated to be worth RM81,000.
The cases are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries mandatory death penalty upon guilty conviction in court.