KULAI: A factory fire in an industrial area in Senai led to the discovery of two drug processing laboratories and the seizure of over four tonnes of narcotics worth RM17.7mil.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said Johor Fire and Rescue Department firefighters were alerted to the blaze at around 4.30pm on Sept 14.
“Police personnel at the scene during the fire suspected the premises was being used as an illegal drug laboratory.
“Further checks uncovered Erimin 5 pills and powder, precursor chemicals, and processing equipment,” he told a press conference at Kulai district police headquarters here on Wednesday (Sept 24).
Comm Hussein added that among the items seized were 100kg of Erimin 5 in powder and pill form, 79kg of precursor powder, 1,827kg of liquid precursors, and several industrial machines.
He said further investigation and intelligence gathering led to a raid on a house in Seri Alam and the arrest of a local man in his 40s on Sept 17.
Comm Hussein added that the suspect, who is believed to be working as a transporter for the syndicate, tested negative for drugs but has a criminal record.
He also said that the suspect has been remanded for 12 days until Monday (Sept 29) and police are pursuing three more Malaysians believed to be the heads of the syndicate.
“Following the arrest, we raided a second factory a kilometre from the first factory, ad seized 250kg of liquid methamphetamine, 20kg of ketamine powder, 74kg of precursor powder, 1,685kg of liquid precursors and more equipment.
“In total, over four tonnes of drugs worth RM17.7mil were confiscated. This amount could have harmed 1.8 million people,” he said, adding that the drugs were meant for both the local and overseas markets.
He added that the syndicate had been operating since February, renting the two factories for bogus production purposes.
“This was not a small operation. The syndicate was running at an industrial scale, with machines capable of producing up to 100,000 Erimin 5 pills a day,” he said.
Comm Hussein said that besides the drugs, police also seized three cars and a lorry, bringing the total value of the seizures to over RM17.9mil.
He said investigations are underway to trace the origin of the chemicals, adding that some may have been smuggled from abroad.
The operation was made possible by cooperation between the Fire and Rescue Department, police and members of the public who provided tip-offs, he added.
“We will not compromise with any party involved in drug distribution, processing, or trafficking. Drugs are the number one enemy of the nation,” he said.
He urged the public to continue channelling information through the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222.
