KUALA SELANGOR, Sept 9 — Police on August 15 took down a drug processing and distribution syndicate and uncovered a drug laboratory in Puncak Alam here through Op Eumenes in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, with drugs seized estimated to be worth RM2.4 billion.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said three local men and a foreign man and woman, aged between 29 and 43, were arrested in six separate raids conducted around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
“During the raids, we seized various types of drugs weighing an estimated 13.17 tonnes, including cannabis, Erimin 5, ketamine, yaba and methamphetamine, as well as various machines and equipment believed to have been used to process drugs at the premises in the industrial area,” he said at a press conference in Puncak Alam here today.
Hussein said this could be the biggest drug seizure recorded this year.
He added that the syndicate, which is believed to have been active since February, obtained drug supplies and processing equipment believed to have been smuggled in from China.
Police also found a container inside the drug laboratory premises, believed to be linked to the syndicate’s modus operandi of smuggling in materials and equipment.
Meanwhile, he said police believe the syndicate leader was shot dead during a previous raid in Seremban.
He said the deceased may have rented the premises, brought in precursor materials (chemical compounds) and equipment from overseas, and recruited syndicate members.
The media previously reported that police had brought down a drug-processing syndicate producing MDMA worth RM27.5 million through Op Thrips in Seremban and Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Hussein said one of the suspects, a Taiwanese, may have been the syndicate’s chemist and had entered the country four times.
“We are still investigating the possibility that the syndicate has a network in Taiwan and will cooperate with the authorities there,” he said.
Several syndicate members have yet to be arrested, including one believed to have fled the country, while investigations are underway to determine the involvement of insiders from other agencies.
“All suspects were charged in court under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 on August 21 and 27.
Hussein also revealed the syndicate may be linked to the victim of a kidnapping in Selangor.
On July 18, media reports said police had rescued a kidnapped man within 48 hours and arrested six people who demanded RM7 million in ransom, during a special operation at a house in Shah Alam.
