KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — The police have crippled a drug trafficking ring with links to the China underworld, and seized ketamine worth about RM1.3 million during a raid at a hotel in Penang.

The drug weighing about 25kg was smuggled from China for sale to the local addict population.

Bukit Aman Narcotics CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said during the raid in Tanjung Tokong on Monday, two local men aged 40 were detained to facilitate investigations.

He said the first suspect was picked up at 3.40pm from the hotel lobby while the other was nabbed at its car park, about 30 minutes later.

“Both suspects were caught red-handed while carrying a box containing whitish powder believed to be ketamine weighing 25.2kg,” he told a media conference in Bukit Aman here today.

Mohd Mokhtar said initial investigations revealed the suspects imported the drug into the country using international courier service to avoid detection by the authorities.

“According to police records last year, ketamine was sold for RM25,000 a kilogramme but due to its high demand in the country, it is currently sold at RM50,000 per kilogramme,” he added.

He said the police also seized a Toyota Vios, motorcycle, watch and 40,000 Yuan Renminbi in cash from the suspects.

Mohd Mokhtar said the suspects were remanded for seven days and the case was investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carried the mandatory death penalty upon conviction. — Bernama