JOHOR BARU, Dec 20 — Police here believe they have crippled a crime syndicate supplying narcotics to detention centres in the state, following the arrest of seven people, including a policeman.

However, state police did not confirm the involvement of a policeman, only that the suspect is a civil servant.

Malay Mail learnt that the policeman, who was assigned to the Johor Baru court complex, is a corporal in his 30s and has served in the police force for the past 12 years.

Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the seven suspects, including the civil servant, were arrested for allegedly trafficking drugs into the Johor Baru Correctional Centre in Ulu Choh, Gelang Patah.

"Police discovered the syndicate’s activities after a drug case suspect on trial in the Johor Baru court was found with nine small tubes containing drugs that were hidden in his underwear at about 10.30am on December 15.

"Investigators believe the man also swallowed some of the tubes while inside the court complex.

"The man was then sent to a hospital and underwent an operation where six tubes were removed from his stomach,” said Kamarul Zaman to reporters at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.

Following the discovery, the state Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) carried out five raids around Johor Baru during which six other suspects, including three women were arrested.

He said the suspects were aged between 25 and 37.

"Out of the six suspects arrested, one of the men was a civil servant,” he said, adding that two of the suspects tested positive for drugs while the other three have prior criminal records for drug-related offences.

Kamarul Zaman said the drugs are believed to have been given to the prisoner in the court complex during his transportation to or from the prison.

He said the drugs were meant to be supplied to other inmates in the detention facility.

During the raids, police also seized 44.7g of marijuana worth RM2,237 and 28.8g of crystal methamphetamine (syabu) worth RM2,884.

Police also seized RM3,800 in cash from the suspects during the raids.

Kamarul Zaman said investigators believe that the syndicate has other members who are still at large.

"Police are in the process of tracking down the remaining suspects to facilitate investigations,” he said.

The suspects have been remanded for the investigations under Section 39A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.