PETALING JAYA: Police scored their biggest drug bust of the year with a seizure worth RM2bil from a factory in Sungai Buloh that doubled as a processing laboratory.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said when met at the scene in Jalan Eko Perindustrian here on Wednesday (Sept 9) that the raid followed months of surveillance.
He added that the operation was linked to the shooting of the group’s leader in Seremban on Sunday (Sept 6).
"On Aug 15, we busted a syndicate-led operation processing and distributing drugs.
"Six raids were conducted and five suspects were arrested, aged between 29 and 43.
"The laboratory here was believed to have also been used as a storehouse for the group's operation.
"The syndicate would use drug precursors brought in as cargo under false listings and process them into drugs here before distributing them.
"We believe the group had been active since February. It is also linked to the suspect shot dead by police in an operation in Seremban recently," he said, adding that those arrested have been charged in court.
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The slain leader, he added, had been responsible for securing the premises as well as the required equipment and drug precursors.
He added that investigations showed the group was linked to the prior kidnapping of one of its members as well.
"We can say that this is the biggest haul by the department this year," he said, adding that the industrial scale of the operation was designed for both local and international markets.
Among the drugs seized were around seven tonnes of liquid MDMA and six tonnes of MDMA powder.
Asked if the premises owner would be called in, Comm Hussein said it would be part of the investigation.
He added that police will also look at whether or not the owner has any links to the group's operations, adding that those who own premises have a responsibility to identify the operations being conducted on their property.
"The location was rented out for around RM9,000 to RM10,000 a month," he said.
Comm Hussein also said that one suspect, who is from Taiwan, is believed to be the syndicate's chemist.
"Investigations showed that he entered the country four times on a social visit pass.
"We are working with our counterparts overseas to identify any syndicate links outside the country," he said.
