KUALA LUMPUR: A drug trafficking and processing syndicate operating since January has been busted following six raids under Ops Rumbia in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, seizing drugs worth RM35.24mil.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the operation on Sept 10 also led to the discovery of an illegal drug-processing lab operated by foreign suspects set up in a bungalow in a residential area.
"The operation not only crippled the drug trafficking network but also uncovered a lab used to process drugs.
"This foiled the syndicate's ability to supply drugs to both local and international markets," he said at a press conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here on Thursday (Sept 17).
Comm Hussein said 11 suspects aged from 25 to 48 were arrested, comprising six local men, two foreign men and three foreign women.
He said the seizures comprised 344.89kg of methamphetamine powder, 347.15kg of liquid methamphetamine, 3.84kg of MDMA powder, 630g of Erimin 5 pills and 20g of cannabis.
"The drugs seized could have affected up to three million users," he said.
In the first raid at a bungalow in Ampang, police arrested three suspects and seized 344.89kg of methamphetamine powder, 344.35kg of liquid methamphetamine, 320g of MDMA powder, a pistol and seven rounds of ammunition.
Police also seized various machines and equipment believed to have been used to process the drugs.
The second raid at a condominium in Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, led to the arrest of two more suspects and the seizure of 3.52kg of MDMA powder, 20g of cannabis and 63g of Erimin 5 pills.
Comm Hussein said four subsequent raids in Kepong and Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, as well as Sepang and Subang Jaya in Selangor, led to the arrest of six more suspects.
The fifth raid in Subang Jaya also uncovered various drug-processing equipment at a premises that was in the process of being converted into an illegal lab.
Five suspects have been remanded while six others were released on police bail and will be called as witnesses.
"The first three suspects were remanded for 14 days from Sept 10 to 23, while the fourth and fifth suspects were remanded for 13 days until Sept 22," he said.
Police also took action under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, seizing assets worth an estimated RM1.79mil.
"The seizures included 11 vehicles, a watch, two bank cards and RM3,610 in cash," he said.
Meanwhile, preliminary urine screening found only the third suspect tested positive for methamphetamine.
"Checks also found that the first and eighth suspects each had one previous drug-related conviction, while the sixth suspect had one previous criminal conviction," he said.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan inspect the items seized during Ops Rumbia at Dewan Pengaman, Pulapol Kuala Lumpur, on Sept 17. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Among the vehicles seized during Ops Rumbia at Dewan Pengaman, Pulapol Kuala Lumpur, on Sept 17. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan inspect the items seized during Ops Rumbia at Dewan Pengaman, Pulapol Kuala Lumpur, on Sept 17. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan speaks during a media briefing on Ops Rumbia at Dewan Pengaman, Pulapol Kuala Lumpur, on Sept 17. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
