KUALA LUMPUR: A man with the title "Datuk", believed to be the leader of a drug syndicate, was among 291 people arrested in a massive operation spanning Johor, Perak and the city.
Drugs worth RM6.26mil, along with several luxury vehicles – including an executive sedan worth at least RM300,000 – were seized during the operation, codenamed Ops Gaurus, between June 17 and 21.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the operation largely focused on six districts in Perak, namely Taiping, Ipoh, Batu Gajah, Tapah, Manjung and Hilir Perak.
"However, follow-up operations were conducted in Kuala Lumpur and Johor.
"One of the operations led to the arrest of the ringleader, who is a Datuk, in Taman Midah, Cheras.
"He... is also a suspected leader of an underworld gang," he told a press conference at the city police headquarters here on Friday (June 26).
A total of 291 drug syndicate members were nabbed, including 21 who are also involved in the underworld gang, Comm Hussein said.
"The syndicate has been operating since mid-2024.
"We believe they procesed, stored and distributed drugs in the Klang Valley, Johor, Perak and Melaka," he added.
Several kinds of drugs seized included MDMA, ecstasy pills and ketamine.
"The syndicate also had equipment and precursor chemicals to process drugs.
"We believe they mainly distributed the drugs to entertainment outlets," he said.
Several assets, including vehicles worth more than RM700,000, were also seized in the operation, he added.
Comm Hussein said the arrest of the syndicate and its storage and processing network has left a serious dent in the local drug trade.
"We will continue to step up operations to target other syndicates," he said.
