Police cripple international drug syndicate in Johor

JOHOR BARU: Police believe they have crippled an international drug syndicate after a team from the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigations Department (NCID) and Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (Sting) carried out five raids in Johor Baru on July 10.
The authorities raided a drug processing lab in Bandar Datuk Onn and nabbed a total of 12 members of the syndicate during the course of the operation which took place between 6.15pm and 8pm around the city.
Federal Narcotics Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said this in a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent headquarters here.
He said, the raw materials recovered from the lab is believed be from China and the processed drugs were scheduled be exported to nearby countries.
He said, police arrested a male and female from Vietnam, four female Chinese nationals, a Singaporean man and five local men, aged between 21 to 51-years-old.
Mohd Shariff said, "The Singaporean was using a passport that did not belong to him and the police will be carrying further investigation into the matter."
"One local suspect was a self taught drug chemist who learned about drug processing from the internet," Mohd Shariff added.
He said, "Five of the suspects tested positive for drug abuse and a few of those arrested have previous criminal records."
"A total of RM620,000 in various currencies, seven cars, seven luxury watches and some jewelry was also recovered from the suspects," he said.
Drugs seized in the raid include 107.4 litre of syabu in liquid form, 5.4kg of processed syabu, 5kg of cocaine, 2.04kg of ketamine, 1.46 kg of ecstasy powder, 867 ecstasy pills and 9kg of various chemicals used in drug processing.
A small arsenal comprising 4 pistols, 3 semi-automatic pistols, one revolver, 140 live bullets, and a hand grenade was also seized during the operation.
The case is being investigating under 39B of The Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 , The Firearms Act and Section 6(1)(c) of Immigration Act 1959/1963.