NIBONG TEBAL: Police successfully dismantled a heroin processing laboratory, operated by a drug distribution syndicate, in two raids in the Bukit Tambun area here on Tuesday (Aug 12).
Seberang Perai Selatan OCPD Supt Jay January Siowou said a police team from the Penang Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department conducted a raid before arresting two local men and a Sri Lankan man, all aged between 25 and 46.
"In the first raid at 4.29pm at a house in Taman Tambun Permai, police arrested two local men along with 1,113gm of heroin, 641gm of heroin base, 4kg of caffeine, several chemicals, and equipment suspected of being drug processing tools.
"In the second raid at a house not far from the first residence, at around 5.04pm, we arrested a Sri Lankan man with 26kg of caffeine. All the drugs seized in the two raids were worth RM74,500," he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 15).
He said based the first house was used as a drug processing laboratory with one of the local suspects being the mastermind and having the expertise to process heroin.
Supt Jay said that the other two suspects acted as assistants as well as couriers for the drugs and chemicals for the syndicate.
With these activities, he said they were believed to live luxuriously even though they were unemployed.
He said intelligence revealed that the syndicate had been engaging in the drug processing activities since January and that the heroin they processed was for the local market.
The two local men who were arrested possessed previous records related to drugs and crime, while the Sri Lankan man had no previous record.
He added that the total amount of drugs seized could be used by 49,500 addicts.
Supt Jay said following their arrest, the police seized four vehicles, as well as two motorcycles, all valued at RM134,500.
"All the drugs and vehicles seized in the raid were worth RM209,000. The three men are now remanded for seven days until Aug 19 to assist with the investigation.
"The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," he added. — Bernama
