SEREMBAN: Police have dismantled a major drug syndicate and seized over 180kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in various forms, valued at an estimated RM27.5mil, from a rented house near here.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the premises had been converted into a mini-lab to process narcotics for both local and international markets.
He said a 52-year-old wanted suspect, identified as highly dangerous and the kingpin of the syndicate, was killed in a shootout with police during the operation at about 1.30pm on Sunday.
“During the raid, the suspect acted aggressively and opened fire at the Bukit Aman raiding team. Police were forced to return fire in self-defence.
“Shortly after, the suspect was found unresponsive and was subsequently pronounced dead by a medical team,” he told reporters at the Seremban district police headquarters.
Comm Hussein said further inspection of the premises led to the discovery of 104.8kg of suspected MDMA powder, 64.4kg of liquid MDMA, 7.9kg of MDMA pills and 5.2kg of MDMA crystals, along with various drug-processing paraphernalia.
He said in subsequent raids, police detained two more suspects here and in Kuala Lumpur.
Urine tests on both were positive for drug abuse.
He said police also seized a revolver and three vehicles from the suspects, including a woman.
The syndicate, he said, had likely been active since January 2026.
Comm Hussein said the deceased and the suspects had various previous records.
The leader, who had been active since the 1990s, had six previous offences, including under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and was being probed under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961.
The woman had 12 offences, including ones for theft and drugs, while the third suspect had 10 for criminal intimidation and drug-related crimes.
“The modus operandi of the syndicate was to operate in a low-density area to avoid the police dragnet.
“This operation represents a major breakthrough for law enforcement, successfully busting a massive, highly organised drug manufacturing ring and cutting off trafficking routes to both local and global markets,” he said, adding that the seized narcotics were enough to supply a single dose to 404,000 drug users.
Police have also obtained orders to remand the two suspects until Sept 13.
Some syndicate members were suspected to have fled to evade arrest, said Comm Hussein.
