Durian orchard produces drugs worth RM27m

KUALA LUMPUR: It is durian season now but an orchard in Behrang, Perak about 87km from here, rather than producing the king of fruits, is processing drugs worth RM27 million instead.

A drug distribution syndicate had turned the orchard into its laboratory, to avoid detection by the authorities, and had processed 274kg of syabu.

However, the tactic was uncovered and crippled by the Bukit Aman Narcotic Criminal Investigation Division (NCID) and the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) with the arrests of eight people including two Iranian nationals and seizure of the drugs.

NCID chief Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said all the suspects detained in separate raids in Perak and Selangor were aged between 22 to 46 years.

"In our first raid yesterday in Behrang, Perak we detained five men including two Iranian nationals in the orchard which had a container which was turned into a drug processing laboratory," he told a media conference in Bukit Aman, here, today.
"The five were engrossed in processing the drugs during the raid and did not realise the presence of the police. Also seized were crystals and liquid suspected to be syabu weighing 274kg estimated to be worth RM27 million," said Mohd Mokhtar.

He said police also seized RM42,000 in cash and four vehicles, adding the five were tested positive for drugs while four had drug-related records.

Following the detention, police detained three more male syndicate members around Ulu Bernam, Klang and Ampang yesterday.

Asked on the involvement of the two Iranians in the syndicate, Mohd Mokhtar said they were hired by the syndicate as chemists to process the drugs.

"All the suspects were remanded for seven days from yesterday until Tuesday for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952," he said.

Meanwhile, based on statistics, 21 illegal chemists involving Iranian nationals were detained out of 31 foreigners nabbed.