Major haul: Comm Kumar (third from left) showing the press the drugs seized in the operation.
JOHOR BARU: A syndicate which has been grinding, mixing and adding flavours to their drug supply worth some RM4mil was busted by Johor police.
Four people, two local men and two Vietnamese women, were held in two separate raids at an apartment here last Friday and Saturday.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the syndicate was operating from a gated and guarded apartment rented by the suspects.
“We also believe the two men are the masterminds of the syndicate, and they have been active since October last year,” he told reporters at the Johor police headquarters yesterday.
Comm Kumar said initial investigations found the suspects got their drug supply from a northern state.
“Upon receiving the supply, they would grind and mix the drugs with their recipe before repacking them. We believe they have also added flavouring to the mix,” he said.
The drugs seized were 23,820g of ecstasy powder worth RM3.97mil, 296g of ketamine worth RM59,200 and 66 Erimin 5 pills worth RM1,320.
Police also seized a car worth RM30,000, an assortment of gold jewellery worth RM4,859, and cash in local currency and Singapore dollars.
The total value seized was worth RM4.076mil.
He said the suspects are being investigated for trafficking dangerous drugs, which carries a death sentence or lifetime imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
Comm Kumar also noted that the Johor Narcotics Crime Investigation Department had arrested 1,184 people for various drug offences in the first 16 days of 2025.
“We have seized 155.75kg and 260.55 litres of drugs during the same period. Police also seized RM577,115 worth of properties belonging to the drugs syndicate.
“In total, we have seized RM21.68mil worth of goods and drugs in the first 16 days of this year alone.
“The drug busts were a result of police intelligence and public tip-off. We hope the public will continue to assist us on this matter,” he said.