KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — A 27-year-old swimming coach has been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking after police seized drugs worth RM6.8 million in two raids in Melaka and Johor, Berita Harian reported.

Jasin district police chief Superintendent Lee Robert said the suspect was detained at the Lipat Kajang toll area at about 11.30am on Wednesday during a roadblock conducted by the district police headquarters’ traffic investigation and enforcement division and narcotics crime investigation division.

Police became suspicious of the suspect’s behaviour before stopping the Toyota Vios he was driving. A search uncovered 3.70g of suspected ketamine and 27.50kg of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), packaged in drink-juice sachets and sealed inside two boxes, the Malay daily reported. 

Lee reportedly said that preliminary investigations and information obtained from the suspect led police to conduct a follow-up operation in Johor with the state’s narcotics crime investigation department.

The operation identified the suspected drug supply source and storage location, he said at a press conference at the Jasin district police headquarters yesterday. 

According to Berita Harian, the suspect, who is from Johor, allegedly packaged the drugs himself in drink-juice sachets before distributing them to entertainment centres at prices ranging from RM300 to RM600 per sachet.

Lee said the total value of drugs seized in both raids was estimated at RM6.808 million. Police also seized various equipment believed to have been used to package the drugs.

A urine screening test found the suspect positive for ketamine. He is believed to have been involved in the activity since early this year, Lee said.

The suspect has been remanded for seven days until October 21 to assist investigations under Section 39B and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Police are still working to identify other members of the distribution network and trace the source of the drugs, he added.