KUALA LUMPUR: A drug syndicate, masterminded by a woman, was busted following the seizure of RM7.8mil worth of heroin-based material.
The 38-year-old woman was arrested along with five men during raids conducted in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on Friday (Feb 19).
Bukit Aman Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID) deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the 240 slabs of heroin-based material, which weighed about 87.86kg, could have been processed into "Heroin No. 3" drug, to be distributed in the streets.
"After it is processed, the heroin could have been supplied to 3.26 million addicts.
"We also seized two pistols - a Glock 30 and Glock 26 - with bullets, as well as RM75,000 in cash and five vehicles," he told a press conference at the state police headquarters on Tuesday (Feb 23).
Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate imported the drugs from a neighbouring country, he added.
"We believe they have been active for about six months, supplying drugs in the Klang Valley.
"The firearms seized could have been used for protection or intimidate buyers in paying up," he said.
DCP Kamarul Zaman said the female syndicate leader was also fluent in other languages.
"It might have assisted her in dealing with syndicates from across the border.
"All suspects have been remanded until Wednesday (Feb 24) and we are seeking to extend the remand further," he added.
Despite the movement control order currently in place, DCP Kamarul Zaman the syndicates are still finding ways to distribute drugs.
"We believe some drug syndicates are using essential services' transport vehicles to get through roadblocks.
"We will tighten our net to ensure that no more slips through," he said.
DCP Kamarul Zaman urged members of the public with information on drug-related crimes to contact the police as soon as possible.
"Cooperation between the police and public is vital in winning the war against the drug menace," he said.
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