Police bust drug processing lab in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Police busted a drug processing lab with the arrests of three men and a woman last week.

Penang police deputy chief Datuk Roslee Chik said the break came after all four were detained during the 9.15pm operation on April 27 at an apartment in Jalan Pantai Sinaran here.

He said those detained were aged between 23 to 53 while the woman was a Laos national and the three men were locals.

Roslee said police seized a packet of ketamine weighing 895g, two packets of heroin weighing eight grammes, a packet of 20 ecstasy pills and a packet containing 120 yaba pills all worth RM42,575.

He said one of the suspects led police to a shophouse in Lebuh Melayu the following day where the drug processing lab was uncovered.

Roslee said the raiding team found 45 packets of caffeine totalling 20.4kg, two packets of drug powders weighing 1,797g and various drug processing apparatus all worth RM37,800.

He added police also seized several branded watches, two high powered motorcycles, three luxury cars, RM41,750 cash and 800,000 Thai bhat.

"The total value of all the items seized is valued at RM676,679," he said at a press conference today.

Roslee said the police believed the suspects have been operating for the last six months and the drugs were meant for the local market.

He said the three men tested positive for drug abuse and checks showed they possessed records for drug offenses, attempted murder and murder.

"All of them have been remanded until May 4 to assist investigations under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," he said.