Two Singaporean men have been charged in the Magistrate's Court in Johor, Malaysia for allegedly trafficking 58.6kg of MDMA, a type of ecstasy drug, in May 2024.

According to Malaysia English-language newspaper Malay Mail, Tan Xiao Wei, 49, and Ee Chong Kiat, 36, were charged with trafficking the drugs at Taman Horizon Hills in the Iskandar Puteri city within Johor at 10:30pm on May 29.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to death.

Other charges

Tan was also handed six charges of trafficking and possession of drugs weighing 13.82 kg.

Four of the charges related to his alleged distribution of around 13g of MDMA and methamphetamine, while the other two charges were for allegedly possessing 680g of ketamine and nimetazepam.

The alleged offences also occurred on May 29, at a condominium unit at Jalan Mutiara 7, Taman Perindustrian Plentong at 6:35pm, reported Malay Mail.

Ee was also charged with two other offences, including trafficking about 74g of MDMA and possessing 26.4g of ketamine. This allegedly occurred on May 29 in a Taman Molek apartment at 3:40pm.

The charges were read to the men in Mandarin by a court interpreter.

May face death penalty or life imprisonment

The case has been set for mention on Aug. 14, according to The Star.

The Star reported that police in Malaysia had announced on Jun. 1 they had dismantled an international drug syndicate.

Then, the police reportedly announced the arrest of 12 foreigners and two Malaysians, including a 49-year-old foreigner, the syndicate's mastermind.

Tan and Ee were represented by lawyer Nur Afiqah Hambali.

Due to the seriousness of the alleged offences, they were also not offered bail.

If found guilty of trafficking, they may face the death penalty or life imprisonment with a minimum of 15 strokes of the cane under Section 39B(1)(a) of Malaysia's Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

If found guilty of the possession charges, they may be sentenced to a maximum of five years' jail or fined up to RM100,000 (S$28,700), or both.

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