PENANG NOW A MAJOR HUB FOR GOLDEN TRIANGLE DRUGS

PENANG -- Penang has become a hub for syndicates trafficking drugs from the
Golden Triangle to markets in northern parts of Malaysia, south Thailand,
Indonesia and Europe, according to police.

Federal police anti-narcotics director Deputy Commissioner Datuk Mamat
Talib was quoted in the Malay Mail as saying that Penang's strategic
position and rapid urbanisation had propelled it as an ideal centre for the
syndicates to store and distribute drugs in the region.

Police believe syndicates in Penang also serve as conduits for drugs from
the Golden Crescent.

The Golden Triangle comprises countries in the northern part of South-east
Asia, while the Golden Crescent comprises Afghanistan, Iran and several
central Asian countries.

The anti-narcotics director told a press conference on Tuesday that police
had been working closely with their counterparts in Singapore, Thailand,
the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, the United States and Australia to combat
the traffickers.

He said police had smashed a major drug supply pipeline involving Europe,
Malaysia and south Thailand.

On Sunday, police arrested a 43-year-old Singaporean believed to be the
leader of a Penang-based major drug syndicate with international links.

He was nabbed by a special task force made up of Penang anti-narcotics
officers and their counterparts from Bukit Aman, in simultaneous raids in
Georgetown and Alor Star.

Police seized 22,500 amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) pills called Erimin
5, with a street value of about RM500,000 (S$233,000), from a condominium
used as a warehouse in Georgetown.

Seven others, including a woman, were detained in the day-long operation.
The suspects were aged between 20 and 53.

The raids were conducted after a two-month surveillance on the syndicate's
activities following the arrest of four Singaporeans aged between 40 and 51
on Jan 29 and Jan 31.

Police seized 35,000 Ecstasy pills, with a street value of more than
RM700,000, from the suspects.

Investigations revealed that the ATS pills were destined for Europe.

He attributed the success of the raids to the close working ties of
Malaysia, Singapore and Interpol.