In a significant crackdown, police apprehended 14 individuals, including the leader of a drug syndicate, during a series of seven coordinated raids in the city and Iskandar Puteri on Wednesday. The operation, which resulted in the seizure of various narcotics valued at approximately RM11.6 million, marks a major victory in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region.
Datuk Khaw Kok Chin, the Director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), announced the arrests at a press briefing held at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) today. He detailed that the detainees comprised two local men, six foreign men, and six foreign women, all aged between 22 and 52. The arrests took place over a five-hour window from 3:40 PM to 8:30 PM.
During the operation, the Johor Contingent NCID discovered a sophisticated drug processing and packaging hub. The seizure included a substantial quantity of ecstasy powder and pills, methamphetamine (syabu), ketamine, erimin 5 pills, MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), and various chemicals used in drug production. In total, the confiscated drugs weighed 198.54 kilograms, a quantity sufficient to supply approximately 1.24 million users.
Also present at the press conference was Johor Police Chief CP M. Kumar. Datuk Khaw revealed that the police also confiscated significant assets from the syndicate, including six vehicles, 14 luxury watches, assorted jewelry, RM204,069 in cash, and S$22,970. The total value of these seized assets is estimated at RM1.17 million.
Elaborating on the syndicate's operations, Khaw noted that the group had been active since January of this year. Their strategy involved renting condominiums and gated terrace houses with security features to serve as drug processing and packaging centers. The finished products were then distributed to neighboring countries via land routes. The syndicate was spearheaded by a 49-year-old foreign national, with five of the 12 foreign suspects already having outstanding arrest warrants in their home countries.
One of the syndicate's deceptive tactics involved packaging drugs in juice containers and producing drug tablets that resembled common medications, such as painkillers, to evade detection by authorities. Initial drug screenings of the suspects indicated that three individuals tested positive for drug use.
All 14 suspects are currently detained under a seven-day remand, beginning from Thursday, as investigations continue under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. The nationalities of the 12 foreign nationals involved are still under investigation. This operation underscores the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug syndicates and curb the spread of narcotics within the region.
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