KANGAR: Police seized a kilogram of cannabis after arresting a husband and wife near a Harumanis mango orchard in Kaki Bukit yesterday.
The couple, aged 27 and 21, were detained around 4.30pm when a police team raided their Proton Waja car, parked by the roadside near the orchard entrance on Jalan Sahabat.
Padang Besar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Shokri Abdullah said that a search of the car revealed a bag containing a gold-colored aluminum foil package wrapped with tape, suspected to be cannabis.
"The cannabis was placed on the floor on the left side of the rear passenger seat, weighing approximately one kilogram," he said.
"Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects have been involved in local drug distribution activities since early this year, with the cannabis being smuggled through 'rat trails' around the Malaysia-Thailand border for the local market in Padang Besar."
Initial investigations suggested that the drugs were obtained from a man from a neighbouring country.
The seized cannabis is valued at RM3,100 and could serve approximately 4,000 drug users in Malaysia.
Background checks revealed that the male suspect has three prior drug-related records, while his wife has no prior records.
An initial drug screening showed that the male suspect tested positive for methamphetamine, while his wife tested negative.
The suspects are now remanded for further investigation under Section 39b of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and not less than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
Shokri warned that anyone involved in smuggling activities would face stern action and urged the public to continue providing information on criminal and drug activities in their areas.