14 people were arrested in Johor Bahru on Friday, Feb 23, in a joint drug bust by the Singapore and Malaysian authorities.
An assortment of drugs worth about RM1.2 million (S$404,000) were seized in the four raids, according to a report by ChannelNewsAsia.
Seven Malaysian men, five Singaporean men, one Singaporean woman and a Thai woman aged between 19 and 65 were arrested, said the Johor police. Investigations are ongoing. All the Singaporeans arrested may face the death penalty if they are convicted of drug trafficking.
Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said the drugs comprised 12.8kg of "Ice" (methamphetamine), 4,333 Ecstasy pills, 200 Eramin-5 pills and 0.95kg of ketamine. The authorities also seized S$8,000 and RM5,000 in cash and five cars.
It was believed that the syndicate had been supplying drugs within Malaysia as well as to some countries in the region.
The CNB and Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) of the Royal Malaysia Police acted after they received information that the syndicate was planning a drug run involving a "sizeable amount of drugs".
"It is important that drug enforcement agencies cooperate closely to take out drug syndicates that operate with no respect for borders," said CNB director Ng Ser Siong. "Through close and timely cooperation, we can take the fight to the drug syndicates.”