KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled three syndicates involved in the distribution of drug-laced vape products in three special operations, seizing drugs and assets worth more than RM45mil, following a rise in the abuse of vapes containing synthetic drugs, including among school students.
The operations were launched after seven secondary school students in Sentul were found unconscious and in a dazed state after allegedly using vapes containing synthetic drugs on July 22. Two of them were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the abuse of vapes suspected to contain drug-laced liquids has emerged as a new challenge in the country's drug crime landscape and requires more aggressive enforcement action.
"More worrying is that the incident involving students in Sentul shows that the abuse of drug-laced vapes is no longer confined to hardcore drug users but has begun spreading among the younger generation.
"The NCID will continue to intensify enforcement and intelligence operations nationwide to detect, combat and cripple syndicates involved in the distribution of these prohibited substances to safeguard public safety and the future of our younger generation," he said at a press conference at the Cheras district police headquarters on Wednesday (July 29).
Comm Hussein said under Ops Kesing, launched on July 23, police dismantled a syndicate led by a foreign national following a series of raids in Kajang, Gombak and Sentul.
Three local men, five foreign women aged between 20 and 45 years old, and a foreign man believed to be the syndicate leader were arrested.
Police also seized 56 drums and 36 bottles containing 742.74kg of liquid methamphetamine, 1.54kg of methamphetamine powder, 27.52kg of liquid MDMA, 3.38kg of MDMA powder, 4.16kg of ketamine, 1.54kg of Erimin 5 pills, 318g of Ecstasy pills, 21g of Yaba pills, 151g of cannabis and 962 vape cartridges containing MDMA liquid.
"The total value of the drugs seized in Ops Kesing is estimated at RM42.5mil.
"Investigations found that the syndicate, which has been active since January, imported precursor chemicals from overseas by falsely declaring them as accessories and fruit juice before storing them in shoplots for distribution to the local market, including Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
Comm Hussein said in Ops Madarini, also conducted on July 23, police arrested two local men and a foreign man aged between 27 and 55 years old, and seized 1,340 vape cartridges containing MDMA liquid worth about RM402,000.
He said the syndicate used houses around the Klang Valley as storage and packing locations before distributing the drug-laced vape products to overseas markets.
"Preliminary urine screenings found one suspect positive for amphetamine, while checks revealed the two local suspects had a total of 10 previous drug-related offences," he said.
Comm Hussein said in Ops Eristalis, carried out on July 25 in collaboration with the Sabak Bernam District NCID, police foiled an attempt by a syndicate to smuggle drugs to a neighbouring country via sea routes.
A foreign man and woman, aged 26 and 27 years old, respectively, were arrested, while police seized 4.16kg of ketamine, 7.12kg of Ecstasy pills, 3.04kg of Erimin 5 pills, 837g of methamphetamine and 3,750 vape cartridges containing MDMA liquid, with the total seizure estimated to be worth RM2.7mil.
According to Comm Hussein, the male suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, and both suspects have been remanded for six days until July 31.
"Investigations found that the syndicate used a fish processing factory as a drug storage facility before transporting the supplies by boat to be distributed to a neighbouring country via sea routes," he said.
Comm Hussein added that besides crippling the syndicates, the NCID also took action under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988 by seizing six vehicles of various types, jewellery, gold-coloured coins and cash worth RM341,746 believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking.
"The asset forfeiture is aimed at crippling the syndicates' financial networks and preventing them from continuing their drug trafficking activities," he said.
