FROM DRUGS TO RICHES - A TALE OF 4 ACEHNESE REFUGEES

Bukit Mertajam, Nov 23:

Two Indonesian couples had dreams of making it rich in
Malaysia.

Leaving their hometown in Aceh, they arrived in Penang in July,
obtaining re-fugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR).

However, the four allegedly became involved in drug
trafficking.

In the four months that followed, the men and their wives became
suppliers of ganja and syabu to addicts in the northern region.

Their double-storey house in Taman Markisa displayed expensive
furniture, suspected to have been bought with proceeds from the sale
of drugs.

Droves of people were often seen arriving in luxury cars for what is
believed to have been drug transactions.

Five days ago, police raided the house and seized 46 slabs of ganja
weighing 46kg, and 10 packets of syabu weighing 350gm.

The drugs, found hidden in a room on the ground floor, can fetch
RM100,000 at street value.

In the 2.15am raid, the police team, led by Chief Inspector Abdul
Latiff Mehat also seized a Mitsubishi Lancer from the couples, aged
between 18 and 28.

The car is also believed to have been bought from the sale of
drugs.

Also seized were four UNHCR refugee cards, two Indonesian passports,
three marriage certification books and five bank passbooks.

Central Seberang Prai police chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohamad
Kuzi Minai, said the four were found to have entered the country using
social visit passes.

The case is being investigated under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous
Drugs Act, 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon
conviction.