JOHOR BARU, May 22 — The Johor Customs Department crippled a drug trafficking syndicate that used a courier services company to send compressed marijuana hidden in cookie containers to Sarawak with the arrest of two men in two separate locations around the city here recently.

Johor Customs director Misbahudin Parmin said following the arrest of the two suspects, enforcement officers managed to seize 24 kg of compressed marijuana that is estimated to be worth RM82,874.

He said the seizure and arrests were the results of three months of intelligence gathering based on a tip-off from the department’s Sarawak counterparts.

"This was followed by a raid at the courier company’s office at 12.05pm on April 11 where nine packages that were about to be sent out were seized.

"Upon further inspection of the package, we found 10 compressed packs suspected to be marijuana hidden in a transparent container containing nuts and biscuits,” Misbahudin said during a press conference.

He was commenting on the raid last month where part of the illicit drugs was hidden with nuts and cookies that were said to be for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Following the discovery of the illicit drugs, Misbahudin said officers detained and arrested a 27-year-old man who sent the package to assist in investigations.

"A team also raided a house that was said to be the premises used to pack the marijuana before it was sent to the recipients.

"During the raid, investigators also found a piece of compressed plant that was believed to be marijuana and arrested a 29-year-old man who was the house’s resident,” he said.

Misbahudin said a routine urine screening test found both suspects being positive for marijuana abuse.

"The syndicate’s modus operandi is to turn the house into a place for drug distribution and wrap the compressed marijuana in packages of with nuts and cookies in a bid to escape from the authorities.

"This case is being investigated under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for possession of dangerous drugs,” he said, adding that if convicted, the section carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.