KUALA LUMPUR: A leader of an underworld gang with a “Datuk” title was among nearly 300 suspects arrested in two major operations in Perak, Kuala Lumpur and Johor, leading to the seizure of drugs worth RM143.3mil.
In the first operation, codenamed Ops Gaurus, the Datuk, believed to be the leader of a drug syndicate, was detained along with more than 200 syndicate members.
Several luxury vehicles, including a Maserati Ghibli, were seized during the operation, which was conducted 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 – 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 mastermind, who holds the title of Datuk, in Taman Midah, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
“He is not only the syndicate’s mastermind but also a leader of an underworld gang,” he told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters yesterday.
A total of 291 syndicate members were arrested, including 21 who were detained for their involvement in an underworld gang.
“The syndicate has been operating since mid-2024. We believe it has been processing, storing and distributing drugs in the Klang Valley, Johor, Perak and Melaka.”
Drugs worth RM6.26mil, including MDMA, ecstasy pills and ketamine, were seized.
“The syndicate also possessed equipment and precursor chemicals used to process drugs.
“We believe it used entertainment outlets for distribution.”
He added that assets, including vehicles worth more than RM700,000, were also seized.
In the second operation, codenamed Ops Haritus, eight people were detained and drugs worth RM135.63mil were seized.
Comm Hussein said seven people, including a foreign woman, aged between 20 and 55, were detained in three raids on June 20.
“We seized drugs, including 97.1kg of ecstasy pills, 47.12kg of MDMA powder and 760 litres of MDMA liquid, with a total value of RM135.63mil,” he said.
Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had been operating since November last year, he said.
“The syndicate processed and distributed the drugs for the local market. We also seized assets worth RM644,000, including six vehicles,” he added.
All the suspects have been remanded for further investigation, he said.
The drugs seized could have supplied up to one million drug users, Comm Hussein added.
