Drugs worth RM15.5m seized in Bukit Aman's biggest ketamine bust (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Police thwarted some 210kg of ketamine reaching about 540,000 drug users nationwide when they scored their biggest bust of the year recently.
Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said police seized the ketamine worth RM15.5 million in two separate raids in the city and Selangor in a 24-hour operation.
"With the amount of ketamine seized, we conclude that the drugs were for local consumption and supposed to be marketed at local entertainment outlets.
"We estimate out of the 540,000 drug users, each would at least consume 0.03g of the ketamine per day," Mokhtar told reporters in a press conference at Bukit Aman police headquarters here yesterday.
He said at about 9.30pm on Dec 6, a raiding party made up of elite members of the federal police Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) arrested three locals in their 30's after receiving a tip-off.
Upon interrogation, the suspects led the investigators to two different condominiums in Bukit Jalil near here where police busted a drug lab and seized 210kg of ketamine, 9,500 Erimin 5 pills, 6,510 Ecstasy pills, 5.8kg of liquid syabu and 22.3kg of various chemical liquids.
"We believe one of the syndicate members is a rogue chemist as the drugs that was brought in is from China," he said.
Also seized were two luxury cars and RM1,500 cash.
The amount of ketamine seized this time around is higher than for the whole of 2016.
"From January to Dec 6 about 162.77kg of ketamine were seized whereas in the current raid, the investigators picked up 210kg of ketamine.
"We are not losing the war against drugs but we are making significant progress in combating it," Mohd Mokhtar added.
He added police are still investigating whether the latest syndicate is the main ketamine distributors in the country.
The suspects have been remanded under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act until Dec 13 to facilitate investigations.
On Dec 7, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar congratulated STING for taking down the drug syndicate.
"Congratulations to the STING@PDRMsia for busting the drug syndicate uncovering the drug process laboratory in Klang Valley. Three individuals arrested and RM15.5 million drugs seized," he twitted.
Mohd Mokhtar said a total of 189,190 individuals were arrested between January and Dec 6 for distributing, being in possession or testing positive for drugs.
A total of 7,508 foreigners were arrested for drugs related offences and drugs worth RM211.98 million were seized in the same period.
About 643.09kg syabu, 162.77kg ketamine, 2,678.98kg Ganja, 409.71kg Heroine, 183,987 ecstasy pills, 883,012 Yaba pills and 1,866,164 Eramin 5 pills) were seized from the beginning of the year.