Johor police crippled a syndicate trafficking drugs to Indonesia and seized syabu worth RM1.07 million in a series of raids around Johor Baru and in Muar on Dec 26 and 27.

State police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said four local men, aged between 30 and 41, acting as "runners" and drug keepers were detained in a special operation conducted by the Region Two Marine Police and Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department from 6.30am to 6.30pm.

He said the syndicate's modus operandi was to hide the drugs in the tyre and vehicle repair equipment compartment.

"The syndicate had been operating since early December whose modus operandi was to hide the drugs in vehicles to hoodwink the authorities before sending them to Indonesia by boats,” he told reporters today.

Ayob Khan said police also seized two vehicles and three litres of ketum water, ketum leaves and processing equipment with the ketum meant for the local market.

He said urine tests done on the suspects found that all of them were positive for methamphetamine but had no criminal records.

He added that all the suspects were being remanded for seven days from Dec 27 and the case would be investigated under Section 39B and Section 15 (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952.

- Bernama