Latest news with #MatZani
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- New Straits Times
The stench of goat dung may mask a hidden drug trade near Thai border
KOTA BARU: The scent of goat dung is proving more than just unpleasant—it's becoming a smokescreen for drug traffickers operating near the Malaysia-Thailand border. Thai authorities say Kelantan-based syndicates are now mimicking a long-used tactic by regional smugglers: burying narcotics under piles of animal waste to evade detection by sight and scent. "This method is used to avoid detection by enforcement agencies. "Authorities in the neighbouring country have been aware of this tactic for several years and have successfully foiled several attempts involving it," the source said. One such case involved a syndicate that hid methamphetamine pills known locally as 'pil kuda', under goat dung. "The drugs were first wrapped in plastic and then buried underground before being covered with animal waste to mask their presence," the sources told New Straits Times. It is understood that local syndicates in Kelantan have begun to emulate this technique, particularly those operating near the Malaysia-Thailand border. The tactic, while unconventional, provides traffickers with a strategic advantage by making the drugs harder to detect visually or through scent especially when using livestock pens as camouflage. It is learnt that authorities in Kelantan especially the police, are now on high alert, with cross-border intelligence sharing being strengthened to monitor and intercept such smuggling methods. Investigations are ongoing to identify individuals and groups who may be replicating these tactics. It was reported that police have crippled a major drug syndicate distributing methamphetamine pills with the seizure of more than 35.4kg of the drug worth RM5.04 million in six raids in Pasir Mas and Tumpat recently. Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department acting director Deputy Commissioner Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che said five men and a woman were arrested in the raids. He said some 20kg of pills were found in a cattle shed.
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Remand extended for influencer, 5 others linked to Kelantan drug bust
PASIR MAS: Police today obtained a seven-day remand extension for a 34-year-old Kelantan influencer and five others to assist in investigations into the seizure of 35.4kg of drugs worth more than RM5 million. The remand order, which ends on July 11, was issued by the Pasir Mas Magistrate's Court. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Mamat said the order also applied to the woman's 35-year-old husband and four other suspects. The extended remand takes effect tomorrow. He said the initial remand for all six suspects began on June 28 and ended today. The suspects were arrested in a special operation jointly carried out by Bukit Aman's Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) and the Kelantan police contingent. Yesterday, police announced they had crippled a major drug syndicate involved in distributing methamphetamine pills, with the seizure of 35.4kg of the drug worth RM5.04 million during six raids in Pasir Mas and Tumpat. Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department acting director Deputy Commissioner Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che said five men and a woman were detained in the operation, which was the result of a year-long investigation. He said the proceeds from drug sales were believed to be used to finance several businesses, including a seafood restaurant in Tanah Merah, a beauty salon and an online business. Police believe the syndicate used cattle farms as storage facilities for the pills, and the amount seized could have supplied an estimated 177,465 users. Police also seized jewellery, branded handbags and luxury vehicles with a total value exceeding RM1.1 million. Mat Zain added that the syndicate was believed to have been active since 2022.
Malay Mail
04-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Police ‘sniff out' RM5m worth of drugs buried in cow dung in Pasir Mas bust
PASIR MAS, July 4 — Police busted a 'pil kuda' drug trafficking syndicate and seized drugs weighing over 35.4 kilograms (kg), valued at RM5.04 million, through six raids in Pasir Mas and Tumpat last Friday. Acting Director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN), Datuk Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali, stated that six local suspects, comprising five men and one woman aged between 25 and 39, were arrested in the operation. He said the success was the result of a year-long intelligence gathering by Bukit Aman's JSJN in cooperation with the Kelantan Contingent to combat the syndicate's activities, which are believed to have been active since 2022. 'Through the first raid, JSJN intercepted a Perodua Axia car on Jalan Gajah Mati, Banggol Chica, Pasir Mas, and arrested a 34-year-old male suspect. A search of the vehicle found 115 grams of 'pil kuda', before a follow-up search at his home in the same area also found 112 grams of 'pil kuda'. 'Subsequently, a search behind the suspect's house revealed a cattle shed with six cows. A search of the farm found 20 kg of 'pil kuda' hidden in a pile of cow dung,' he told reporters at a special press conference at the Pasir Mas District Police Headquarters yesterday. Elaborating further, Mat Zani said that in simultaneous raids, they also arrested another male suspect along with his Toyota Hilux and seized 15.4 kg of 'pil kuda'. 'Further raids at several houses around Pasir Mas and Tumpat successfully apprehended three more suspects, including a woman who is the wife of the first suspect. 'We believe the profits from selling these 'pil kuda' were used to open other businesses such as a seafood restaurant in Tanah Merah, a salon, and online businesses. They laundered the illegal money by engaging in these businesses,' he said. He added that the 'pil kuda' targeted school students and teenagers, believed to be for the market throughout Kelantan, Klang Valley, and Johor Bahru, which could meet the needs of 177,465 people. 'The syndicate's modus operandi was to use the cattle shed as a storage facility before distributing them to the local market,' he said. Besides 'pil kuda', police also seized jewellery, branded bags, and several luxury cars worth over RM1.1 million and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and all suspects have been remanded for seven days until tomorrow to assist in the investigation. 'Initial urine screening tests found all suspects negative for drugs. However, a check of criminal records found that the second and fifth suspects had past records, including drug abuse. 'The Royal Malaysia Police will continue to curb drug abuse problems, especially in Kelantan as a border state, through continuous operations to detect several other drug syndicates that are on our radar,' he said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
04-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Police ‘sniff out' RM5 million worth of drugs buried in cow dung in Pasir Mas bust
PASIR MAS, July 4 — Police busted a 'pil kuda' drug trafficking syndicate and seized drugs weighing over 35.4 kilograms (kg), valued at RM5.04 million, through six raids in Pasir Mas and Tumpat last Friday. Acting Director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN), Datuk Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali, stated that six local suspects, comprising five men and one woman aged between 25 and 39, were arrested in the operation. He said the success was the result of a year-long intelligence gathering by Bukit Aman's JSJN in cooperation with the Kelantan Contingent to combat the syndicate's activities, which are believed to have been active since 2022. 'Through the first raid, JSJN intercepted a Perodua Axia car on Jalan Gajah Mati, Banggol Chica, Pasir Mas, and arrested a 34-year-old male suspect. A search of the vehicle found 115 grams of 'pil kuda', before a follow-up search at his home in the same area also found 112 grams of 'pil kuda'. 'Subsequently, a search behind the suspect's house revealed a cattle shed with six cows. A search of the farm found 20 kg of 'pil kuda' hidden in a pile of cow dung,' he told reporters at a special press conference at the Pasir Mas District Police Headquarters today. Elaborating further, Mat Zani said that in simultaneous raids, they also arrested another male suspect along with his Toyota Hilux and seized 15.4 kg of 'pil kuda'. 'Further raids at several houses around Pasir Mas and Tumpat successfully apprehended three more suspects, including a woman who is the wife of the first suspect. 'We believe the profits from selling these 'pil kuda' were used to open other businesses such as a seafood restaurant in Tanah Merah, a salon, and online businesses. They laundered the illegal money by engaging in these businesses,' he said. He added that the 'pil kuda' targeted school students and teenagers, believed to be for the market throughout Kelantan, Klang Valley, and Johor Bahru, which could meet the needs of 177,465 people. 'The syndicate's modus operandi was to use the cattle shed as a storage facility before distributing them to the local market,' he said. Besides 'pil kuda', police also seized jewellery, branded bags, and several luxury cars worth over RM1.1 million and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and all suspects have been remanded for seven days until tomorrow to assist in the investigation. 'Initial urine screening tests found all suspects negative for drugs. However, a check of criminal records found that the second and fifth suspects had past records, including drug abuse. 'The Royal Malaysia Police will continue to curb drug abuse problems, especially in Kelantan as a border state, through continuous operations to detect several other drug syndicates that are on our radar,' he said. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
03-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops ‘sniff out' drugs worth millions hidden in pile of cow dung
Acting director of the Bukit Aman narcotics crime investigation department Mat Zani @ Salahuddin Che Ali (second from left) showing some of the items seized. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Police busted a 'pil kuda' (yaba) trafficking syndicate and seized drugs weighing over 35.4kg, valued at RM5.04 million, during six raids in Pasir Mas and Tumpat, Kelantan, last Friday. Acting director of the Bukit Aman narcotics crime investigation department Mat Zani @ Salahuddin Che Ali said six local suspects, comprising five men and one woman aged between 25 and 39, were arrested in the operation, Bernama reported. He said the operation's success was the result of year-long intelligence gathering by Bukit Aman in cooperation with the Kelantan police contingent to combat the activities of the syndicate, believed to be active since 2022. Police first stopped a car on Jalan Gajah Mati, Banggol Chica, Pasir Mas, and arrested a 34-year-old male suspect. They found 115g of yaba pills in the car and 112g at his home nearby. Police also searched a cattle shed with six cows behind his house and found 20kg of yaba pills hidden in a pile of cow dung. 'The syndicate's modus operandi was to use the cattle shed as a storage facility before distributing the drug to the local market,' Mat Sani said. In simultaneous raids, police also arrested another male suspect and seized his four-wheel-drive vehicle as well as 15.4kg of yaba pills. 'In further raids at several houses around Pasir Mas and Tumpat, we detained three more suspects, including a woman, who is the wife of the first suspect. 'We believe the profits from selling these pills were used to open other businesses such as a seafood restaurant in Tanah Merah, a salon and online businesses. 'They were laundering the illegal proceeds from their drug activities by engaging in these businesses,' Mat Zani said. He added that the syndicate targeted school students and teenagers throughout Kelantan, the Klang Valley and Johor Bahru. Police also seized jewellery, branded bags and several luxury cars worth over RM1.1 million. Initial urine tests found all the suspects negative for drugs.
