Pubdate: Wed, 23 Nov 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 Author: M. Sivanantha Sharma Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Death+Penalty (Death Penalty) FROM DRUGS TO RICHES - A TALE OF 4 ACEHNESE REFUGEES Bukit Mertajam, Nov 23: Two Indonesian couples had dreams of making it rich in Malaysia. Leaving their hometown in Aceh, they arrived in Penang in July, obtaining re-fugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, the four allegedly became involved in drug trafficking. In the four months that followed, the men and their wives became suppliers of ganja and syabu to addicts in the northern region. Their double-storey house in Taman Markisa displayed expensive furniture, suspected to have been bought with proceeds from the sale of drugs. Droves of people were often seen arriving in luxury cars for what is believed to have been drug transactions. Five days ago, police raided the house and seized 46 slabs of ganja weighing 46kg, and 10 packets of syabu weighing 350gm. The drugs, found hidden in a room on the ground floor, can fetch RM100,000 at street value. In the 2.15am raid, the police team, led by Chief Inspector Abdul Latiff Mehat also seized a Mitsubishi Lancer from the couples, aged between 18 and 28. The car is also believed to have been bought from the sale of drugs. Also seized were four UNHCR refugee cards, two Indonesian passports, three marriage certification books and five bank passbooks. Central Seberang Prai police chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Kuzi Minai, said the four were found to have entered the country using social visit passes. The case is being investigated under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. - ---