RM350k worth of drugs seized as cops cripple syndicate (Updated)

GEORGE TOWN: Police have exposed a ruse by a syndicate who peddled drugs by inserting them into drink sachets here before selling the items at entertainment outlets that were patronised by youths.
But the anti-drug cops got a sniff of its tactic and laid down a trap to nab the group.
Acting on a tip-off, police disrupted the syndicate's operations with the seizure of RM350,000 worth of narcotics in Butterworth.
The latest bust also saw five individuals, aged between 23 and 32, detained during the raid as a crack police team stormed into an apartment unit in Jalan Harbour Place and seized the drugs at about 6.45am on Nov 27.
Penang acting police chief Datuk Roslee Chik told a press conference that numerous packets of drink sachets which contained the illegal substances were found during the operation.
He said the suspects used a minimal amount of 0.4g of drugs for each sachet.
Roslee said the police also seized 3.4kg of ecstasy powder and 50.7g of ketamine along with five luxury cars, jewellery and RM6,500 during the raid
The suspects have been remanded until Dec 3 pending investigations under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 where they may be facing the mandatory death sentence if the police decide to classify the case under Section 39B.