GEORGE TOWN, Dec 3 — Police have crippled a drug syndicate with the discovery of two drug laboratories and seizure of 6.5kg of drugs worth RM750,000 here. 

The two raids were conducted by the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) and the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department on Friday. 

The department’s director, Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim, said 12 suspects, including two women, aged 27 to 47, were arrested.

“During the first raid in Sungai Ara, police arrested a man and seized 389gm of heroin base, 3.8kg of heroin, 2.03kg of   liquid heroin, 23.7kg of caffeine and a variety of drug-making paraphernalia,” he told reporters at the state police headquarters yesterday

“The suspect led the raiding party to Sungai Petani (Kedah) where another five men were picked up.”

In the second raid on a condominium unit here, police seized 250gm of methamphetamine from a drug lab.

“We believe the drugs were being processed for the Penang and Kedah markets,” he said.

Noor Rashid said police believed the group had been operating in Penang for over a year.

The raiding team also seized RM70,264 in cash, jewellery, luxury cars and four high-powered motorcycles, totalling about RM800,000.

The suspects are being investigated under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

“Let this be a warning to those involved in drug processing and distribution. One day you will be caught,” Noor Rashid said.