Cops arrest 41 individuals during Ops Hibur in Johor

JOHOR BARU: A total of 41 individuals were arrested, including five foreigners, during a raid on two entertainment centres in the city.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the operation was conducted by the police and the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) under “Ops Hibur”.

“The Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) led the raid at 1am on Sunday (Nov 12).

“At the first premises, a total of 139 individuals were inspected, and 10 people, aged 17 to 45, tested positive for drugs.

“The suspects consist of eight men and two women, seven of whom are locals and three of whom are foreigners,” he said in a statement.

Comm Kamarul Zaman added that the suspects were positive for benzodiazepines, tetrahydrocannabinol, and methamphetamine.

“We also arrested 24 individuals, including two foreigners, for being drunk in public.

“The act is an offence under Section 19 of the Syariah Criminal Enactments 1997, which carries a fine of RM3,000, two-year imprisonment, or both if found guilty of consuming alcohol in public,” he added.

The second raid was conducted at 2am, during which the police inspected 91 individuals.

“The second premises was also operating without a licence, and seven people, consisting of four men and three women, tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol, methamphetamine, and amphetamine.

“Those arrested are aged between 20 and 68 years old,” he said, adding that the cashier was also arrested to help with the investigations.

Police have also inspected a civil servant at the premises who was tested negative for drugs, he added.

Seven audio systems, a firework simulator, and cash worth RM1,955 were confiscated during the raid.

All of the suspects are currently under remand until Nov 14.

The case is being investigated under Sections 6(2) of the Johor Entertainment Places Enactment for operating without a licence and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for consuming drugs.