MMEA disposes of drugs worth over RM27mil

PORT DICKSON: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) disposed of various types of drugs weighing 1,301 kilogrammes, worth more than RM27 million seized between 2020 and earlier this year.

Its deputy director-general (Management) Khairul Anwar Bachok said the drugs were seized in the Kedah and Perlis Maritime Zones; the Kuala Kedah Maritime Zoneas; the Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone and the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone in Johor.

“The disposal of drugs such as cannabis, heroin, morphine, methamphetamine and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was carried out after the MMEA received an official court order.

“The drug disposal process is carried out using the burning method in an incubator. It is a safe and effective way to destroy the drugs without polluting the environment,” he said at the press conference at Syarikat Kualiti Alam here on Thursday (Sept 21).

Also present were Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria and Kedah/ Perlis MMEA director First Admiral Romli Mustafa.

He said for the Kedah and Perlis zones, seizures were made at the coastal border between Kuala Perlis and Satun, Thailand, with the drugs being thrown into the sea after realising the presence of the authorities.

The drug was brought in from a neighbouring country and believed to be marketed here including in Langkawi and Penang, he said.

In Johor, he said that the drugs were from neighbouring countries and Malaysia was a transit location before they were marketed abroad with the mastermind believed to involve local citizens.

Khairul Anwar also said that the MMEA will further increase patrols and enforcement in the country’s waters, especially in hotspot locations suspected of being the location of criminal activities such as drug smuggling at sea.- BK