Johor cops seize over RM8mil worth of drugs, Singaporean among five nabbed
Commisioner Kumar added that the Singaporean suspect was arrested during the raid at an apartment unit in Danga Bay here at around 10pm on the night of April 23. PHOTO: ST FILE
Johor cops seize over RM8mil worth of drugs, Singaporean among five nabbed
JOHOR BAHRU - A major police operation across four districts in Johor has led to the arrest of five male individuals, including a Singaporean, and the seizure of drugs worth nearly RM9 million (S$2.7 million).
The five-day special operation, launched by the Johor police from April 20 until April 24 targeted syndicates operating in Johor Baru, Batu Pahat, Kota Tinggi, and Kluang.
The raids resulted in the confiscation of various drugs including syabu, ecstasy, ketamine, Erimin 5 pills, heroin, ganja, and yaba pills, with a total street value of RM8.97 million.
Johor police chief commissioner Datuk M. Kumar said the successful raids reflect the police's continued commitment to battling drug distribution networks.
'We have struck a significant blow to drug syndicates with the arrest of five suspects, aged between 22 and 47, including a Singaporean.
'These operations dismantled well-organised distribution channels that used gated and guarded apartments and vehicles to store and move drugs,' he said in a press conference at the state police headquarters here on April 29.
Commisioner Kumar added that the Singaporean suspect was arrested during the raid at an apartment unit in Danga Bay here at around 10pm on the night of April 23.
He said during an inspection inside the apartment, police found a variety of drugs, including more than 10,000 grams of ecstasy powder worth RM1.6 million.
'Checks with our Singapore counterparts found the suspect has one previous record in the island republic. Further inspection also revealed that he possessed a fake identification document during his arrest,' he added.
Commissioner Kumar said all five suspects were being remanded to assist with investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
10 hours ago
- AsiaOne
15 university students die after bus collides with MPV in Malaysia, Malaysia News
At least 15 people have died after a bus carrying students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) and a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) collided on a Malaysian highway in the early hours of June 9. The accident took place at 1.10am along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in the town of Gerik in Perak state, according to reports in Malaysian media. News website Free Malaysia Today reported that the bus had been travelling from Jerteh in Terengganu towards its main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak. A four-man team from Gerik Fire and Rescue Station, which arrived at the site nearly an hour later, found the bus overturned following the tragic accident. The MPV was found in a ditch, officials said. A total of 48 people were involved in the crash — 42 students, four were in the MPV, a bus driver and an attendant, said Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad. Thirteen students died at the scene, while another two died at the hospital, the authorities said. Thirty-three people had injuries ranging from broken arms and legs to minor wounds. "Upon arrival (at the scene of the incident), we found that some of the victims had managed to exit the bus on their own, some were thrown out, and others remained trapped inside," said Sabarodzi He said rescuers had to use hydraulic cutting tools to cut open the rear of the bus to extract six victims trapped in the vehicle. Preliminary police investigation revealed that the bus had hit the back of the MPV after losing control. Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin said the authorities are currently conducting investigations to determine whether the crash involved human negligence or a technical problem. Several survivors claimed the bus had been speeding, and that there was a "burning smell". Nur Irdina Huri, 22, said the bus was being driven in an erratic manner while descending a hilly stretch of the highway. "It happened so fast... I managed to crawl out of the bus through a small opening, but I could not help my friends because it was so dark," Nur Irdina told The Star. Aleeya Maisarah Azizzani, 21, said some passengers had complained about a burning smell earlier. She said that at one point, the bus was speeding near a hilly stretch of the highway. It hit a pothole and nearly swerved off towards the right side of the road, she added. "I was seated on the right side of the bus, and I was getting nervous. I started reciting prayers. The driver slowed down after that, but he suddenly sped up again," she told The Star. Moments later, Aleeya noticed the bus taking a sharp turn before veering to the left and crashing into the road divider. The accident left her with a bump on the head, a sprained leg and back pains. "After the crash, I could only get myself out because my back was hurting badly. I could not help anyone else. "Some of my friends were screaming for help, others were trapped with injured legs, and some had already gone silent," she said while crying. Upsi's deputy vice-chancellor for student affairs and alumni, Professor Norkhalid Salimin, said most of the bus passengers were from the nearby state of Terengganu, and they were on their way back to campus after celebrating Hari Raya Haji on June 7. "They had gathered in Jerteh and chartered a private bus to return to campus after celebrating the festive break in their respective home towns," Prof Norkhalid told national news agency Bernama. A member of the public, who had rushed to help the victims upon hearing about the accident, described the scene as "chaotic" and "heart-wrenching". "It was tragic. Some were crying, some were screaming for help and were in pain as they were pinned in the wreckage," said the man, who wanted to be known only as Razali. "There were also those who were urging their friends to recite the 'shahadah' (Islamic profession of faith), despite it being obvious that their friends were already dead," Razali told the New Straits Times. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he has instructed the Higher Education Ministry to coordinate appropriate assistance for the families of the victims. In a June 9 Facebook post, Datuk Seri Anwar and his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail extended their condolences to the affected families. "We pray that you will be given strength and perseverance in facing this immense hardship," he said. PM Anwar stressed that the tragedy underscored the importance of road safety and urged everyone to remain vigilant on the road. "Lives are precious and irreplaceable. Let this serve as a reminder to all of us to always be cautious and not rush to reach our destinations," he said. Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir also extended his condolences, saying that his ministry would provide all necessary assistance to those affected. [[nid:717743]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Independent Singapore
11 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Singaporean driver arrested in Johor Bahru following roadside altercation
JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA: Johor Bahru police arrested a 40-year-old Singaporean man on Sunday evening (Jun 8) in connection with a roadside dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation with a local couple. The arrest came approximately 28 hours after the incident, which took place on Saturday afternoon in Skudai, Johor. The Johor Bahru North Police District shared that the investigation began after police discovered a Facebook video circulating on Facebook, uploaded by a user named 'Vicky Sing,' showing a heated argument between two men on the side of the road. The complainant, a 31-year-old Malaysian man, reported to the police at 3:01 p.m. on Saturday that he had been driving his BMW sedan through Queen's Garden in Skudai at about 2:39 p.m. when the Singapore-registered Toyota Altis behind him repeatedly honked. The Malaysian man claimed he was accused of obstructing the Toyota, which led to a verbal argument that morphed into a physical altercation between the two drivers. Police investigations revealed that during the confrontation, the Singaporean man kicked the Malaysian man's car, causing damage to the vehicle's body. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The arrested Singaporean driver was taken into custody at around 6:20 p.m. on Sunday in Johor Bahru, where police also seized evidence relevant to the case. Authorities confirmed that he has no prior criminal record and that a urine test conducted was negative for drug use. The Johor police said that the man is expected to be brought before the Johor Bahru Court on Monday (Jun 9) for an application to extend his detention as investigations continue.
Online Citizen
11 hours ago
- Online Citizen
Driver in fatal Tampines crash faces fresh charge for grievous hurt, bringing total to five
SINGAPORE – The driver involved in a multi-vehicle accident in Tampines last year that killed two people, including a student from Temasek Junior College, was handed a fresh charge on 9 June 2025. Muhammad Syafie Ismail, 44, is now facing a fifth charge under the Road Traffic Act. His latest charge accuses him of dangerous driving causing grievous hurt to two motorists—van driver Chia Tong Chai, 65, and car driver Muhammad Azril Mahmood, 49. The incident occurred on 22 April 2024 at the junction of Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Avenue 4, where a chain collision involved multiple cars, a van, and a minibus. No plea was taken from Syafie during the court session. His case has been adjourned, and he is scheduled to return to court on 26 June 2025. Syafie, a Singaporean, was first charged on 25 April 2024 with four offences: dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing hurt, dangerous driving, and failing to stop after an accident. According to court documents, the fatal series of events began at around 7am on 22 April 2024. Syafie was allegedly driving along Bedok Reservoir Road towards Tampines Avenue 4 when he abruptly changed lanes to overtake a car. This resulted in a sideswipe collision, causing the overtaken vehicle to veer left and scrape its tyres against the road kerb. Syafie allegedly did not stop to provide his particulars. Subsequently, he ran a red light and collided with three cars. The impact led to further collisions with a van and a minibus. The crash resulted in two fatalities. One victim, 17-year-old Temasek Junior College student Afifah Munirah Muhammad Azril, was a passenger in a car driven by her father, Muhammad Azril. The other victim, 57-year-old Norzihan Juwahib, was a passenger in the van driven by Chia. She was an employee of a pest control company. Several others were injured, including an 11-year-old boy in one of the cars and another boy on the minibus. Chia and Azril, now identified as victims of grievous hurt in the latest charge, also sustained serious injuries. Video footage of the accident was widely circulated on social media, drawing national attention to the dangers of reckless driving. In addition to the criminal charges, Syafie is facing two civil lawsuits for negligence. The plaintiffs are Chia and another passenger of the van. If convicted of dangerous driving causing death, Syafie could face two to eight years in prison and disqualification from driving all classes of vehicles. For dangerous driving causing hurt, he could be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to two years, or both, in addition to driving disqualification. A conviction for dangerous driving carries a penalty of up to S$5,000, up to 12 months' jail, or both. Failing to stop after an accident may lead to a fine of up to S$1,000, up to three months' jail, or both. The new charge of dangerous driving causing grievous hurt carries a jail term of between one and five years and a mandatory driving ban. Traffic Police: 142 killed in accidents as Singapore's traffic deaths hit five-year high in 2024 The Tampines case comes amid growing concern over traffic safety in Singapore. According to the Traffic Police's annual report, road fatalities and injuries reached a five-year high in 2024. A total of 142 lives were lost in traffic accidents last year, up from 136 in 2023. Injuries also increased to 9,302 in 2024, from 8,941 the previous year. While red-light running violations fell by 11.9%—from 32,867 in 2023 to 28,965 in 2024—the number of fatal accidents linked to red-light violations also declined. However, a more alarming trend emerged. Among the 139 fatal accidents in 2024, 46 were attributed to speeding. This represents one in three fatal crashes, compared to one in four in 2023. There was also a sharp 64.8% increase in speeding offences in 2024. To combat the issue, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam announced on 15 February 2025 that demerit points and composition fines would be increased. Additionally, from April 2025, red-light cameras islandwide were activated with speed enforcement capabilities. Speaking on the urgency of the matter, Shanmugam stated, 'People are dying and getting injured on our roads. Every vehicle is a potential missile—it's dangerous if you don't use it properly.'
