REMAND OF THREE SUSPECTED METH SYNDICATE CHEMISTS EXTENDED

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- The remand of three foreign men suspected to be chemists for an international methamphetamine syndicate has been extended for another seven days following their arrest here, recently.

Penang Police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the three suspects, aged between 32 and 38, were previously remanded for seven days, which ended today.

“Police have obtained a further seven-day remand extension until Jan 3 to assist investigations. We are conducting further investigations,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Azizee said that so far, no new arrests had been made, but efforts to track down the syndicate’s network were ongoing and the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The media had earlier reported that police uncovered an illegal methamphetamine processing laboratory at a durian orchard along Jalan Teluk Bahang here, following the arrest of three foreign men and the seizure of 1.2 tonnes of various types of drugs worth RM38 million in a series of raids on Dec 20 and 21.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan was reported as saying that based on intelligence, a team from the Bukit Aman NCID raided a condominium unit along Jalan Gurdwara, George Town on Dec 20 and arrested the three foreign men who acted as chemists processing methamphetamine for the syndicate.

He said that during the raid, a 27-year-old local man attempted to flee and fell from the fifth floor before dying at the scene, while inspections found 26 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine and various drug-packaging equipment at the location.

Police then raided a business premises in Taman Windmill, Jalan Gurdwara and seized 474 kg of methamphetamine. The premises was believed to have been used to store and package drugs before distribution.

Police subsequently raided a durian orchard located about one kilometre from the main road, uncovering a large-scale methamphetamine processing laboratory and seizing 60 kg of methamphetamine powder, suspected methamphetamine crystal blocks (54 kg), liquid methamphetamine (574 kg) and various drug-processing equipment.

-- BERNAMA