Indonesian Woman Nabbed, Ecstasy Pills Worth US$2.78 Million Seized In Penang

BUTTERWORTH (Penang, Malaysia), April 30 (Bernama) -- An Indonesian woman has been detained by the police to facilitate investigations into one of the biggest seizures of ecstasy pills in the country. The drug, worth about RM8.4 million (US$2.78 million), was seized in a raid at a guesthouse in Pulau Tikus near here on Thursday. The 1am raid, which saw the Penang Customs Department seizing 134,000 ecstasy pills, also involved the police narcotics unit and the Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Initial investigations have revealed that the suspect, in her 60s, managed the guesthouse which was originally a double-storey house. State customs director, Zulkifli Yahya said on Monday, the success of the raid was the result of intelligence gathering and public information. The drug was found in 133 packets and had a market value of RM8.4 million (US$2.78 million), he told a news conference here on Monday. Also present at the conference were Penang Narcotics CID chief Supt S. Batumalai and Penang MACC Senior Superintendent Yaacop Angah. Zulkifli said the suspect was under remand until May 2, to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction. -- BERNAMA