SHAH ALAM: Joint operations against drug syndicates in Selangor saw eight suspects arrested and over RM16mil worth of drugs seized.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Shazeli Kahar said raids were conducted in Klang, Rawang and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Oct 13 to 19.
One raid involved the storeroom of an unregistered temple in South Klang, believed to have been used to store drugs, he added.
He said a man who worked part-time assisting with the temple's management was also arrested.
"We are still investigating... (whether) the temple was used as a front for drug storage, as initial checks found it to be unregistered.
"The land is designated for sewage infrastructure, not for a temple," he told a press conference at state police headquarters here on Friday (Oct 23).
He said the raid was part of five separate operations
The operations, carried out by Selangor, Gombak and KLIA police and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd auxiliary police, led to four drug syndicates being busted.
"We arrested eight suspects, four locals and four foreigners, believed to be involved in local and international drug trafficking networks," Comm Shazeli added.
The suspects, aged between 19 and 48, comprised three men and a woman from Malaysia, as well as three men and a woman from overseas.
Comm Shazeli said police seized various types of drugs with a total estimated value of RM16.2mil.
The seizures included 81.3kg of cannabis buds, 37kg of cannabis, 40kg of ketamine in liquid and cartridge form, 36kg of ecstasy in liquid form, 20.6kg of heroin and 25.4kg of ketamine.
"The total amount of drugs seized is estimated to be enough to supply up to 801,000 users at one time, based on an estimated consumption of 0.3g per user," he added.
Police also seized three vehicles, cash amounting to £200 and RM135, with the total value of the seized assets estimated at RM54,835.
Comm Shazeli said all the suspects were being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Checks found that only one local suspect had a criminal record with seven offences, while all the foreign suspects entered the country on social visit passes.
Comm Shazeli said the arrests and seizures highlighted the continued threat posed by large-scale, organised trafficking syndicates.
"Selangor police will continue to intensify enforcement efforts without compromise," he said.
