Nigerian drug lord caught

POLICE have crippled an international drug syndicate with connections in at least six countries with the arrest of six Nigerian men and a Thai woman here. The Bukit Aman narcotics division have also discovered a new method by the syndicate to smuggle drugs in and out of the country. The syndicate used drug mules, mostly women from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and China, who were paid between US$2,000 (RM6,086) and US$3,000 (RM9,129) for each trip.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Chief Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the women were lured by the Nigerian men to become drug mules through social networking websites while some were recruited from their outings in night clubs.

“These women were fully aware of what they were getting into, and they became repeat offenders after they successfully completed one trip," he said. After a six-month surveillance, police identified a 28-year-old Nigerian who masterminded the syndicate. Noor Rashid said police investigations were slowed down by the slick mastermind who kept a low profile.

“It was difficult for us to get him as he moved around in taxis and constantly changed his place of residence," he said. He also said that drug mules, aware that security had been tightened at KL International Airport, had changed their routes.

The six men and Thai woman were arrested following a special operation on Sunday night.

“The seven were detained in Puchong, Selayang and Kota Damansara.” The mastermind was caught when police ambushed an apartment in Kota Damansara, where police seized 4.9kg of heroin and 85gm of syabu worth a total of RM250,000.

All seven are being remanded.