KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Police in its latest drug bust crippled a drug distribution syndicate and seized RM11.43 million worth of methamphetamine and ketamine from various locations in the Klang Valley.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crim Investigation Department (JSJN) director Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said the discovery of the drugs resulted from raids carried out on February 9 and led to an arrest of a 31-year-old Chinese man who is a drug pusher and also manned a “distribution centre” located in a luxury condominium property in Batu Caves.
“We arrested the man at a condominium parking area, and from that it led us to a vehicle — a Toyota Fortuner — on the backseat, we found five bags that contained of 50 Chinese tea packaging that contained syabu (methamphetamine).
“The 50 packets were worth 51.825kg, while in the car bonnet we found 32 packets of ketamine worth 32.51kg,” Khaw told a press conference here at Bukit Aman Police Headquarters.
Followed by this, the 31-year-old man led police to a condominium unit based on the keys the man had on him.
From a search inside the condominium unit, in the living room, the police found six gunny sacks and two bags filled with approximately 36.991kg of methamphetamine, and 139.604kg of ketamine.
“The overall seizure of drugs was worth 88.816kg of methamphetamine and 171.755kg of ketamine.
“The market price of the drugs, it’s worth RM11.43 million and if the drugs got out, it could reach 1.02 million drug users,” said Khaw.
Under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, the police also confiscated cash worth RM1.1 million.
“The modus operandi is similar, they operate from a rented condominium unit, for this one they were paying RM2,500 rent.
“So they use the condominium unit to store the drugs, and when there are buyers they would distribute it.
“This syndicate has been active since December 2024, and the suspect’s remand starts today,” said Khaw.
A general view of the drugs seized during Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, February 10, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
While the suspect does not have a criminal record, Khaw said it does not mean that he was not involved in drug trafficking activities in the past.
“The suspect is paid RM10,000 as basic salary, and on top of that he gets a RM2,000 commission for every delivery made (based on the amount of delivery).
“He has no criminal records, but you must remember that, although he does not have a criminal record, it does not mean that this is his first offence.
“He has just been fortunate that he was not caught earlier,” he said.
In a separate drug bust, the police managed to shutdown a syndicate that processes drugs in the form of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) powder-laced juice.
“The total drug seizure is worth RM1.45 million, and arrest of five individuals — four Chinese men and one Malay woman — of ages between 36 and 46,” said Khaw.
The drugs seized from this raid included heroin base, heroin, methaphetamine, MDMA powder, yaba pills, vape liquid, ecstasy pills, marijuana and eramin pills.
“If these drugs were not seized, it could reach 72,752 drug users.
“The syndicate believed to have been active since last October and have been supplying drugs to the local entertainment centres in the Klang Valley,” added Khaw.
The police arrested the suspects also in a condominium unit in Taman Suntex Cheras, where the condominium was rented for RM2,300.
The suspects of this drug bust, according to Khaw, they have previous criminal and drug offences records.
When asked why these repeat offenders are still out here, Khaw said this time around they are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which will carry a heavier punishment.
“They were charged previously but were released.
“This time the offenders are investigated under Section 39B, so it will be more painful,” he said.
Under Section 39B, if convicted, offenders will face death sentence or life imprisonment and caning not more than 12 strokes.
