PETALING JAYA: Bukit Aman seized over RM2bil worth of drugs – the biggest haul of the year – after smashing a syndicate and killing its leader in a shootout.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that the raid was the result of months of surveillance, with the bust preceding the fatal shooting on Sunday.
“On Aug 15, the police busted an operation that was led by a drug syndicate to process and distribute drugs. Six raids were conducted, and five suspects aged between 29 and 43 were arrested.
“The processing laboratory here was believed to have been used as a storehouse for the group’s operation. The syndicate would use drug precursors brought in via cargo freights under false listings and process them into drugs here before distributing them.
“We believe the group had been active since February of this year. This group is also linked to the suspect who was shot dead by police in an operation in Seremban recently,” he said at a press conference at the drug lab yesterday at Puncak Alam.
He added that the slain leader was responsible for securing the warehouse, equipment and drug precursors.
“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 are about seven tonnes of liquid MDMA and six tonnes in powder form. In total the police seized around RM2.4bil in narcotics alone.
Comm Hussein noted that while some of the chemicals seized could be used in other valid industries, the main drug precursors were illegal.
He added that investigators believe the group also has links to drug mule operations, specifically those operating within the state.
On the possibility of “insider help”, he said that the matter was still under investigation.
Comm Hussein said police would investigate whether the property owner was involved in the group’s activities, stating that landlords are responsible for knowing how their premises are used.
“The place was rented out for around RM9,000 to RM10,000 a month,” he said, adding that police would also seize the building.
Among those arrested was a Taiwanese national, whom police believe acted as the syndicate’s chemist.
“Investigations showed that he had entered the country four times with a social visit pass. We are working with our counterparts overseas to determine syndicate links outside the country,” he said.
All arrested suspects have since been charged. Authorities are also tracking down another suspect.
“One suspect has fled the country, and we are in the midst of tracing the suspect,” he said.
