KOTA BARU: A man with seven prior convictions was arrested by the police on Monday for possession of 18,000 Yaba pills worth RM165,000.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the 29-year-old suspect was riding a motorcycle when he was detained at the back of a school here at around 7.30pm.
"A police team spotted the motorcyclist as he passed through the area, and upon inspection, they discovered a plastic package containing 2.2kg of the pills.
"They subsequently arrested the suspect, who has six prior drug-related convictions and one for another crime.
"The drugs are believed to be intended for the use of around 18,000 drug addicts," he told a press conference here today.
Mohd Yusoff added that the motorcycle, valued at approximately RM8,000, and RM1,500 in cash were also seized from the man, who is from Bachok.
"Police are still investigating whether the suspect is affiliated with a drug syndicate," he added.
The suspect has been remanded for seven days from Nov 5 to assist with the police investigation into the case.
In a separate development, he said that 663 individuals were arrested for various drug offences during a week-long anti-drug operation that concluded yesterday.
The 663 arrested included 628 locals and 35 foreigners, detained during a series of operations across the state that began on Oct 29.
"A government servant was among those detained for possessing 1.5 litres of ketum juice.
"During the operation, police also seized various types of drugs worth RM4.9 million, along with vehicles and cash valued at around RM85,000," he added.
Mohd Yusoff said the drugs seized were estimated to supply around 326,923 addicts, including those within Kelantan.