Police Cripple Vape Drug Syndicate, Seize RM2.88 Mln In Narcotics

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Police have crippled a drug distribution syndicate using electronic cigarette or vape liquids following two separate raids around the capital, seizing 18.56 kilogrammes (kg) of furanyl fentanyl and 0.66 kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) worth approximately RM2.88 million.

Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) director Bukit Aman Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said in the first raid around Taman Bukit Cheras on April 13, police arrested two local men and one foreign man aged between 23 and 31.

“Inspection of the premises found nine white bottles containing liquid suspected to be furanyl fentanyl, estimated to weigh 16.86 kg,” he told a press conference at Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters here today.

In the second raid around Taman Mastiara, Sentul last Friday, police arrested a local man and a woman aged 22 and 25, and seized 155 vape cartridges containing liquid suspected to be furanyl fentanyl weighing 1.7 kg, as well as 22 plastic packets containing powder suspected to be MDMA weighing 0.66 kg.

He said the suspects comprised shop attendants, a shop owner, a storekeeper and individuals acting as runners, and initial urine screening tests found all of them negative for drugs.

“Record checks also showed they had no prior criminal records. The first three suspects were remanded for 11 days beginning April 14, while the other two were remanded for seven days beginning April 18,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Media had previously reported the presence of ‘zombie drug’ fentanyl in the country, believed to be 100 times stronger than morphine, based on wastewater sample analysis conducted in the Subang Valley.

Meanwhile, Hussein said the success was part of Ops Vape 1.0 conducted nationwide from April 13 until last Friday, focusing on inspections of vape-selling premises and curbing drug distribution activities through vape under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.

Throughout the operation, 1,670 premises were inspected with 728 found to have violated regulations, while 20 arrests were made for offences including  drug abuse, trafficking and possession of dangerous drugs, while 13 out of 868 individuals who underwent urine screening were tested positive for drugs. 

“Seizures involved 8,091 devices and 5,257 cartridges, as well as 19.67 kg of drugs including furanyl fentanyl, THC, MDMA and ketum juice, in addition to 186.54 kg of vape liquid without drugs being investigated under related laws,” he said, adding that the total value of seizures throughout Ops Vape 1.0 is estimated at RM4.6 million.

-- BERNAMA