JOHOR BARU: Police have crippled an international drug syndicate, seizing RM11.6 million worth of drugs in seven simultaneous raids on luxury houses here, Seri Alam, and Iskandar Puteri on Monday (May 29).
The raiding party also seized RM1.2 million worth of items, believed to be ill-gotten, including six cars, Rolex watches, several pieces of jewelry, as well as cash amounting to RM204,069 and SD$22,970 during the raids.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said 14 suspects including 12 foreigners, aged between 22 and 52, were arrested in the raids.
He added that preliminary investigation showed five of the 12 foreigners arrested during the raids are on the wanted list in the respective countries.
"Acting on gathered intelligences, police raided the luxurious condominiums and gated-terrace houses located in high end areas in Johor Baru, Seri Alam and Iskandar Puteri.
"The rented houses were converted as mini labs to process and pack the drugs for international distribution.
"The foreigners arrested during the raid consisting of six women and men. One of them is the mastermind while some of them were chemists who are believed processed the drugs," he told reporters here today.
Khaw remained tight-lipped when he was asked on the nationality of the foreigners arrested in raids as police are expected to make more arrests nationwide.
He, however, said the foreigners have past records related to drug abuse, criminal and imigration related offence.
Khaw also said one of the two local men arrested in the raids has a history in drug-related offence.
"The syndicate which is believe operated in Johor Baru since the beginning of this year. We also believed that they have set-up mini labs in other states too.
"Police is looking at the possibility that the syndicate busted in Penang were part of this group he said.
Khaw said the syndicate's modus operandi involved recruiting certified chemists to purchase prescription drugs in bulk.
The drugs were legally procured in bulk from neighboring countries, namely Thailand and Myanmar, and used as precursors to manufacture narcotics. They were then repackaged and distributed abroad.
The syndicate members rented luxurious condominiums and houses in gated and guarded compounds, where mini labs were set up to process the drugs.
The narcotics were disguised in juice packs, vape cartridges, and fast food boxes before being distributed to other countries via sea and land routes.
