JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Police seized various types of drugs worth more than RM13.59 million and arrested five individuals believed to be members of a drug trafficking syndicate that has been active since Sept last year.
Johor police chief Datuk M Kumar said an ex-convict who was recently released in July 2022, was suspected of being the mastermind of the syndicate and was arrested along with four other individuals through raids from Jan 5 to 8pm yesterday.
He said the 29-year-old suspect was arrested at a luxury condominium in Bandar Seri Alam that had been rented since July 2023 with two other men and a woman, while another woman was arrested in Gelang Patah.
"The modus operandi of this syndicate is to use luxury condominiums with fences and security guards as storage stores as well as activities to repackage drugs obtained from outside Johor before distributing them.
"As a result of the raids carried out by the police, a total of 73.55 kilograms (kg) of ecstasy powder were seized; 20.29 kg of ketamine; 9,750 erimin pills and 26 ecstasy pills worth more than RM13.59 million," he said.
According to Kumar, if the drugs were successfully marketed, it can be used by around 357,126 addicts.
He added that in the raid carried out by the police, three cars, a motorcycle, watches, various jewellery, RM550 in cash and a company account with a total amount of RM87,741.80 believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking activities were also seized.
"The value of the drugs seized and confiscated amounted to RM14.2 million. Three of those arrested were found to be positive for ketamine and one has a record related to a drug case.
"The mastermind of this syndicate was arrested under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 in relation to drug trafficking activities in 2021 and all suspects would be remanded until Jan 11 under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," he said.
He further explained that the police are also looking for another individual known as Chang Siew Yin, 38 (she) with an address in Melaka, to assist in the investigation.
-- BERNAMA
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