DRUG SYNDICATE BUSTED: DRUGS WORTH RM13.8 MILLION SEIZED, SIX MEN ARRESTED - POLICE

PETALING JAYA, Dec 5  (Bernama) -- Police have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate with the seizure of methamphetamine and ketamine worth RM13.8 million in raids conducted in the Klang Valley and Perak last Monday (Dec 1).

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said six men, all locals aged between 26 and 46, including a former policeman, were arrested.

“The first raid was conducted in the basement parking area of a supermarket in Petaling Jaya, where inspections were carried out on a Toyota Alphard and two Perodua Myvi vehicles.

“Police arrested five suspects and seized 263 plastic packages suspected to contain methamphetamine, weighing 273 kilograms (kg), as well as 98 plastic packages suspected to contain ketamine weighing 101 kg,” he told reporters today.

Following the arrest, he said, a second raid was conducted at the compound of a petrol station in the Simpang Pulai Rest and Recreation (R&R) area in Perak, resulting in the arrest of the sixth suspect, who was believed to be acting as a lookout.

“Investigations revealed that the drug supply was smuggled in from a neighbouring country using a ‘rat route’ accessible to four-wheel drive vehicles.

“The drugs were then transported to the Klang Valley for distribution on the local market. The total amount of drugs seized is estimated to meet the needs of 1.7 million addicts,” he said.

Hussein added that urine screening showed two of the suspects tested positive for marijuana, while the other two tested positive for methamphetamine.

A background check found that five of the suspects had records for criminal and drug-related offences, he said, adding that all the suspects are on remand for seven days until this Sunday to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

In addition to the drugs, he said police also seized two four-wheel drive vehicles and a sports utility vehicle.

-- BERNAMA