Two Singaporeans charged in JB with trafficking 58kg of MDMA

JOHOR BARU: Two Singaporean men have been charged in a Magistrate’s Court here with distributing 58.6kg of MDMA in Iskandar Puteri.

Tan Xiao Wei, 49, and Ee Choong Kiat, 36, only nodded in acknowledgment after the charges were read to them in Mandarin before Magistrate R. Salini on Wednesday (June 12).

Tan also faced four additional charges for distribution and two for possession, while Ee was slapped with one count each for distribution and possession.

No plea was recorded from either accused.

On the individual charges, Tan allegedly distributed 1kg, 11kg and 460g of MDMA and 660g of methamphetamine, and had in his possession 510g of ketamine and 170g of nimetazepam.

The offences were allegedly committed at Residensi Permai, Menara A, Jalan Mutiara 7, Taman Perindustrian Plentong at 6.35 pm on May 29.

Ee, meanwhile, is alleged to have distributed 74g of MDMA and possessed 26.4g of ketamine at Pangsapuri Molek, Persiaran Bumi Hijau, Taman Molek here at 3.40pm on May 29.

The distribution charges, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking and punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, carry the death penalty or life imprisonment with no fewer than 15 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

The possession charges, framed under Section 12(2) and punishable under Section 12(3) of the same Act, carry a jail term of up to five years or a maximum fine of RM100,000, or both, if found guilty.

DPP Nur Ameerah Allaudeen prosecuted while Nur Afiqah Hambal represented the accused.

No bail was offered owing to the non-bailable nature of the trafficking charges.

The court set Aug 14 for next mention pending submission of the chemist’s report.

On June 1, police said they had dismantled an international drug syndicate with the arrest of 12 foreigners and two locals, and the seizure of 198.5kg of drugs worth RM11.6mil during a series of raids.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said among those arrested was the syndicate’s mastermind, a 49-year-old foreign man.

“We arrested 14 people, including two local men, six foreign men, and six foreign women, all aged between 22 and 52,” said Comm Khaw.

“These suspects are believed to be involved in processing and distributing various types of drugs, including ecstasy powder and pills, syabu, ketamine, Erimin-5 pills, and MDMA, including raw chemicals for processing drugs,” he said.