JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested five suspected members of a syndicate that processed and sold drugs through the messaging platform WeChat.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said over RM2.9mil worth of drugs were seized in three separate raids here on June 19, which also saw the arrest of three local men and two Vietnamese women aged 29 to 46.
“The syndicate, which had been active since January, used two gated and guarded apartment units and a rented room in a terrace house to process the substances before packing them into sachets for distribution," he told a press conference at state police headquarters here on Wednesday (July 2).
“They promoted the drugs on the messaging platform.
"After buyers made payment, the drug sachets would be dropped off at inconspicuous locations such as roadside spots, beside dumpsters and drains.
“The buyers would then be informed to pick up their order. All transactions were done online so the buyer and seller did not meet face to face,” he said.
Comm Kumar said police also seized 16,865g of ecstasy powder, 104g of ketamine, 1,950 erimin 5 pills, 1,250 ecstasy pills and 35 yaba pills, which could cater to almost 60,000 drug abusers.
Drug processing equipment and five cars were also seized, along with RM9,100 and some jewellery, he added.
Police believe one of the arrested male suspects is the syndicate's ringleader.
All the suspects have been remanded until Thursday (July 3) for investigation under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
