Penang cops seize RM3.43mil worth of drugs, syndicate smashed

Penang cops seize RM3.43mil worth of drugs, syndicate smashed

PETALING JAYA: Penang police dismantled a drug processing laboratory and syndicate in a series of raids across the Timur Laut district over the last two days, seizing drugs estimated to be worth RM3.43 million.

Penang police chief Azizee Ismail said the operation, conducted from 4pm on Monday to 9am yesterday, led to the arrest of three people, including a foreign woman, and the seizure of various drugs.

He said the operation followed intelligence gathering that uncovered a house being used as a drug processing laboratory for MDMA.

“In the first raid, we arrested a man in a parking area on Lebuh Macallum before he led us to a residence used by the syndicate as a drug processing laboratory.

“During the search of the house, we seized 22kg of MDMA, 133g of ketamine, 38g of cannabis, 294 ecstasy pills, 40 Erimin 5 pills and various drug-processing equipment,” Bernama reported him as saying.

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Follow-up raids at separate locations resulted in the arrest of another man and a foreign woman, both believed to be accomplices of the syndicate.

Azizee said initial investigation found that the syndicate had been active since October last year, focusing on the local market.

The seized drugs are estimated to be sufficient for use by nearly 50,000 users.

Two of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine and had records for drug-related offences.

Police also seized three vehicles, jewellery and cash totalling nearly RM35,000.

All the suspects, aged between 33 and 48, have been remanded until April 6 to assist in the investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking.