NO MALAYSIANS DETECTED IN ABUSE OF ZOMBIE-DRUG FENTANYL SO FAR - BUKIT AMAN

SHAH ALAM, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Police confirmed that no Malaysian citizens have been arrested for fentanyl abuse so far, following the discovery and massive seizure of the synthetic opioid here last August.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said police have also not received any reports linking Malaysian citizens to the banned substance, dubbed the 'zombie drug'.

He said that from the investigations carried out, police believe that the suspects involved in the case are an international syndicate that tried to bring in fentanyl via containers through a port in Selangor.

“So far, no new arrests have been made in relation to the case. Police also believe that the attempt to bring in the synthetic drug was the syndicate's initial attempt to introduce fentanyl to the local market," he told a press conference at the Selangor Police Headquarters (IPK) here today.

Hussein said fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic drug (50 times powerful than heroin) that has caused many deaths abroad, and police remain vigilant against attempts to bring the substance into the country.

On Sept 23, Hussein revealed that the police had successfully busted an international drug trafficking syndicate after seizing more than 1,000 kilogrammes (kg) of fentanyl and various other drugs worth RM32.14 million in two raids in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Selangor on Aug 19 and 23, which saw the arrest of four local men and four foreigners (two men and two women) aged between 19 and 55.

According to Hussein, fentanyl is processed into liquid and powder form before being sold in the market, while the powder is made into pills and the liquid is used to lace mixtures for electronic cigarettes (vapes).

-- BERNAMA