Latest news with #HamzahAhmad
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Penang police seize RM6.3mil worth of MDMA in car drug bust, 6 detained
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police have disrupted a drug syndicate operating in George Town after uncovering 37.8kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) stored in a car, part of a haul valued at RM6.3 million. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the drugs seized could have reached up to 80,000 users. Six local men, aged between 33 and 41, were detained in raids carried out between 2pm on Tuesday and 4.30am today. The operation began with the detention of one suspect, which led officers to a parked vehicle used to store the drug. "A search of the vehicle revealed two fabric bags containing 532 packets of purple and gold MDMA powder weighing 18.42kg. "Five cardboard boxes in the same car held an additional 777 multi-coloured packets weighing 19.38kg," he said at a press conference at the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters today. Police also found packaging materials, including paper and plastic bags, believed to have been used for mailing or distributing the drugs. The first arrest led policemen to five more suspects around George Town. All six are unemployed and believed to be part of a syndicate active since the beginning of the year. Urine tests showed one suspect was positive for benzodiazepines, while four others tested positive for ketamine. Background checks revealed one of the men had a criminal record involving 16 thefts, while four others had prior convictions related to drugs or other offences. Authorities also seized seven cars worth RM297,000, jewellery valued at RM1,500, and RM2,550 in cash, bringing the total value of seizures to RM6.6 million. Hamzah said police are investigating potential links between the group and a separate drug bust last week, in which a man was found with multiple substances, including MDMA, worth RM2.1 million. The suspects have been remanded for seven days until May 27. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Penang police seize RM6.3 mil worth of MDMA in car drug bust, six detained
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police have disrupted a drug syndicate operating in George Town after uncovering 37.8kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) stored in a car, part of a haul valued at RM6.3 million. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the drugs seized could have reached up to 80,000 users. Six local men, aged between 33 and 41, were detained in raids carried out between 2 pm on Tuesday and 4.30 am today. The operation began with the detention of one suspect, which led officers to a parked vehicle used to store the drug. 'A search of the vehicle revealed two fabric bags containing 532 packets of purple and gold MDMA powder weighing 18.42kg. Five cardboard boxes in the same car held an additional 777 multi-coloured packets weighing 19.38kg,' he said at a press conference at the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters (IPD) today. Police also found packaging materials, including paper and plastic bags, believed to have been used for mailing or distributing the drugs. The first detention led officers to five more suspects around George Town. All six are unemployed and believed to be part of a syndicate active since the beginning of the year. Urine tests showed one suspect was positive for benzodiazepines, while four others tested positive for ketamine. Background checks revealed one of the men had 16 previous criminal records for theft, while four others had prior convictions related to drugs or other offences. Authorities also seized seven cars worth RM297,000, jewellery valued at RM1,500, and RM2,550 in cash, bringing the total value of seizures to RM6.6 million. Hamzah added that police are investigating potential links between the group and a separate drug bust last week, in which a man was found with multiple substances, including MDMA, worth RM2.1 million. The suspects have been remanded for seven days until May 27. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Penang police seize RM6.3 mil worth of MDMA
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police have disrupted a drug syndicate operating in George Town after uncovering 37.8kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) stored in a car, part of a haul valued at RM6.3 million. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the drugs seized could have reached up to 80,000 users. Six local men, aged between 33 and 41, were detained in raids carried out between 2 pm on Tuesday and 4.30 am today. The operation began with the detention of one suspect, which led officers to a parked vehicle used to store the drug. 'A search of the vehicle revealed two fabric bags containing 532 packets of purple and gold MDMA powder weighing 18.42kg. Five cardboard boxes in the same car held an additional 777 multi-coloured packets weighing 19.38kg,' he said at a press conference at the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters (IPD) today. Police also found packaging materials, including paper and plastic bags, believed to have been used for mailing or distributing the drugs. The first detention led officers to five more suspects around George Town. All six are unemployed and believed to be part of a syndicate active since the beginning of the year. Urine tests showed one suspect was positive for benzodiazepines, while four others tested positive for ketamine. Background checks revealed one of the men had 16 previous criminal records for theft, while four others had prior convictions related to drugs or other offences. Authorities also seized seven cars worth RM297,000, jewellery valued at RM1,500, and RM2,550 in cash, bringing the total value of seizures to RM6.6 million. Hamzah added that police are investigating potential links between the group and a separate drug bust last week, in which a man was found with multiple substances, including MDMA, worth RM2.1 million. The suspects have been remanded for seven days until May 27. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The Star
21-05-2025
- The Star
Police dismantle drug syndicate in Bukit Mertajam
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police have dismantled a drug syndicate following the arrest of six suspects and the seizure of 37.8kg of methylenedioxy-N-hydroxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) worth RM6.3mil. State police chief Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said all suspects, who are locals, were apprehended during a raid by the state Narcotic Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) between 2pm on Tuesday (May 20) and 4.30am on Wednesday (May 21). "The suspects, aged between 33 and 41, were detained at several locations in George Town," he said during a press conference at the Central Seberang Perai police headquarters on Wednesday (May 21). Comm Hamzah said police, based on intelligence work, detained a suspicious man during the first raid at a roadside in George Town. Despite initially resisting arrest, the suspect led police to a public car park in George Town, where they discovered drugs packaged in a car. "In the car, police found two zippered cloth bags containing 532 purple and gold packets filled with MDMA powder, weighing about 18,420g. "Police also found five boxes containing 777 plastic packets of various colours filled with MDMA powder, weighing 19,380g," he said. Comm Hamzah said police also confiscated a plastic package containing paper and plastic bags intended for couriering the drugs to their customers. Following the discovery, police arrested another five suspects in different locations in George Town. He said police believe the syndicate used the car to store the drugs. During the raid, police confiscated seven vehicles worth RM297,000, jewellery worth RM1,500, and RM2,550 in cash. Police believe the syndicate has been active since early this year, and the seized drugs could be used 800,000 times. "We also believe the drugs were meant for customers in entertainment centres in Penang," he said. Comm Hamzah said five of the suspects tested negative for Benzo and ketamine. The suspects also have prior criminal and drug records. They have been remanded for seven days from May 21 to May 27 to assist in investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death sentence or life imprisonment upon conviction.
Malay Mail
17-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang factory engineer loses RM300,000 in Facebook investment scam, say police
GEORGE TOWN, May 17 —A 55-year-old factory engineer lost RM300,000 after falling for a fake online investment scheme promoted through Facebook. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the victim reported the scam yesterday, claiming he was tricked by a syndicate known as NBMAX. 'In early April, the victim saw a Facebook ad offering high returns through a stock trading investment. He contacted a woman via WhatsApp who convinced him to join. 'He was told to download the NBMAX app, register as a member, and start investing,' Hamzah said in a statement today. The victim then made seven money transfers to an account under the name NB Management Sdn Bhd. However, when he tried to deposit another RM52,800 at a bank counter, staff stopped the transaction and alerted him that he may have been scammed. The man then lodged a police report. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. — Bernama
