Police Bust International Drug Distribution Syndicate: Seize Nearly One Tonne Of Fentanyl

SHAH ALAM, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Police busted an international drug distribution syndicate after seizing over 1,000 kilogrammes (kg) of fentanyl and various other types of drugs, worth RM32.14 million, in raids conducted in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Selangor on Aug 19 and 23.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the seizures, made through Operation Black Ash and Operation Black Wood, also saw the arrest of four local men, two foreign men and two women, aged between 19 and 55.

He said all the seized drugs were brought in through a port in Selangor involving the same syndicate from an eastern country, and the contraband was believed to be for the local market as well as to be sold in neighbouring countries.

In Ops Black Ash, which took place from 2.20 pm to 5.10 pm on Aug 19 in Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, police seized a new type of liquid fentanyl weighing 961.8 kg, with a value of RM30.7 million.

"This is the first successful attempt to be thwarted in Malaysia, and this fentanyl drug is very dangerous, more than 100 times stronger than morphine and heroin," he said at a press conference here today.

Hussein said fentanyl is a type of drug that is the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States and Canada.

He said the syndicate used the modus operandi of sending cargo through Port Klang by making false declarations before the drugs were broken into two consignments to be sent to different groups.

Hussein said the investigation found that the fentanyl was processed into liquid and powder forms before being sold on the market.

"We believe the powder from this drug is made into pills, while the liquid is used as a mixture for electronic cigarettes (vapes)," he said.

Regarding Ops Black Wood, Hussein said that during the operation on Aug 23, which took place from 1.30 pm to 9.45 pm in Selangor, police seized various types of drugs such as ecstasy pills and powder, ketamine, MDMA and eramin 5 pills, with a total weight of 75.09 kg and valued at RM2.7 million.

Hussein said that besides the two operations, they also conducted five other special operations, including Ops Ceylon, Ops Blackbutt, Ops Black Birch and Ops Cengal in August and September.

He said that through Ops Ceylon on Sept 7 in the Klang Valley and Muar, Johor, police arrested five local men and two foreign nationals and seized 132.862 kg of drugs worth RM3.3 million.

In Ops Blackbutt on Sept 9 in Selangor, Hussein said police successfully seized 202.59 kg of methamphetamine worth RM6.76 million, and arrested three local men.

He said that a day later, police conducted Ops Black Birch in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, and arrested two local men and seized 103.33 kg of methamphetamine worth RM3.32 million.

"In Ops Cengal on Sept 12 in the Klang Valley, police arrested three local men and one local woman, and seized of 230.67 kg of methamphetamine worth RM7.4 million," he said.

Hussein said that overall, the six special operations resulted in the arrest of 24 individuals, aged between 19 and 55, including 17 local men, two foreign men, four foreign women and one local woman.

"The total seizure amount was 1,706.35 kg, involving various types of drugs with an estimated market value of RM54.18 million," he said, adding that the syndicate had been active for nearly 10 months.

-- BERNANA