Huge haul: Comm Khaw (centre) and other officers showing the seized drugs during a press conference at the KL police headquarters.
KUALA LUMPUR: A drug syndicate has been busted with the seizure of drugs worth RM21.8mil and the arrest of two suspects, including the mastermind, a Singaporean.
The two men – a 64-year-old Singaporean and a 48-year-old local – were nabbed following raids at Taman Desa Petaling on Saturday.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said the first raid was conducted at a traditional medicine shop in Taman Desa Petaling at about 2pm.
“We detained the local man, who was the syndicate’s runner, and seized 209.5kg of Erimin 5 pills.
“Further action led to the arrest of the Singaporean mastermind, some 30m from the shop. We managed to stop his car before apprehending him.
“Some 5.5kg of ecstasy pills were seized from the car,” he told a press conference at the KL police headquarters yesterday.
Further investigation revealed that the medicine shop was owned by the mastermind’s daughter, he said.
“We believe they were using the shop as a guise to store the drugs.
“The drugs seized are worth RM21.8mil and could have been supplied to 1.1 million drug users,” he said.
The syndicate had been operating since early this year, Comm Khaw said.
“We believe they got their supply from overseas before distributing the drugs locally, especially in the Klang Valley.
“Both suspects did not have any prior criminal record but we had previously detained the mastermind. However, he was not prosecuted.
“We also discovered the mastermind’s passport had expired,” Comm Khaw said.
Both suspects would be remanded until Friday, he said.
“We also seized the syndicate’s assets, including cars and cash worth RM59,000.
“We will continue to track down and detain other syndicate members who are still at large,” he added.
Comm Khaw also urged the public to continue to provide information on drug-related activities by contacting the NCID at 012-208 7222.
“Cooperation between the public and the police is essential in combating the drug menace,” he said.
