Pubdate: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 Source: Malay Mail (Malaysia) Copyright: 2005 The New Straits Times Press Contact: http://www.mmail.com.my/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3834 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) KLH DADAH-FREE AFTER ARREST OF SYNDICATE LEADER The sprawling Kuala Lumpur Hospital compound is 'dadah-free' after a syndicate leader was caught carrying suspected heroin in a plastic bag on Friday. Clients of the 35-year-old man, known as Saphi, included patients who bought the dadah at the carpark or nearby staff quarters. City police's Narcotics Division arrested the man, who had eluded arrest for a year, at a parking lot near the Emergency Unit about 2.30am. The team seized 90 packets of dadah, believed to be heroin, weighing about 182 grammes from the suspect. City police Narcotics Division chief Assistant Commissioner Othman Harun said the case is classified under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952. "We believe that the dadah pipeline at the HKL has been crippled following the arrest of the leader." Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate's customers included patients and outsiders. The transactions were made at the parking lots and nearby staff quarters. The syndicate, he said, was well-known as there were pushers and addicts who came all the way from Pahang to get their dadah supplies there. Police believe the syndicate's territory included the HKL's compound, Jalan Pekeliling and Jalan Chow Kit. A packet of heroin, similar to the ones seized yesterday, was sold between RM90 and RM180 to small-time pushers and addicts. It would be repacked in 10 to 15 small tubes, and sold between RM10 and RM12 each. The Malay Mail learnt that police had been monitoring dadah pushing activities at the hospital for some time following complaints from its administrators. For the past two months, five dadah pushers had been arrested in and around the hospital. Those with information on dadah activities in their areas should contact City police hotline at 03-2115-9999. - ---