KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian believed to be a drug kingpin arrested in Laos several days ago is not wanted in Malaysia but has a criminal record with three drug-related offences.
Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din told the New Straits Times that the man who was born in Perak had committed the crimes under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1985 (Special Preventive Measures), and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The Dangerous Drugs Act 1985 (Special Preventive Measures) is a Malaysian law which was enacted to provide for the preventive detention of persons associated with any activity relating to or involving the trafficking in dangerous drugs.
Section 15 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 states: (1) Any person who (a) consumes, administers to himself or suffers any other person, which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or a maximum jail term of two years if convicted.
Kamarudin also said that all three crimes were committed between 2002 and 2006.
However, he said the man was only wanted by Thai police and not in Malaysia.
Yesterday, police confirmed the case of a 41-year-old Malaysian drug kingpin who was arrested in Laos, saying they were working with authorities in that country as well as Thailand to topple the illegal ring.
Kamarudin had said the man was arrested on Dec 28, 2023, in Vientiane, Laos, for failure to possess valid travel documents under the Lao Immigration Act.
He had also said Thailand's Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) had proposed to the Laos Police to deport the suspect to Thailand, as he has been blacklisted under the Thai Narcotics Act.
Prior to that, it was reported a Malaysian fugitive wanted in Thailand for drug smuggling was arrested during a Thai-Lao joint operation last week.
The 39-year-old Malaysian, an alleged drug dealer and key member of a drug syndicate, had been hiding in Laos, according to Thai police.
Assistant National Police Chief Lieutenant-General Panurat Lakboon said the ONCB had been investigating the Malaysian man, a suspected drug trafficker who played a key role as procurer and coordinator in the drug trade in the Golden Triangle area since 2006.