JOHOR BARU, Jan 22 — A drug syndicate specialising in selling drug-infused drink packets and other party drugs was crippled by police following several coordinated raids here late yesterday.
It was learnt a special task force from Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department had leads to several individuals that were suspected to have been active in drug dealing in the city centre here.
On Sunday, five male suspects, aged from 30 to 69, were arrested in simultaneous raids in the city.
The task force teams also seized more than RM50,000 in cash, about 40 packets of powdered methamphetamine and ketamine, more than 500 pills consisting of ecstasy and psychotropic tablets including four drug-laced drink cocktails during their eight-hour operation.
In addition to that, the raiding team also seized several luxury cars, limited edition timepieces and gold jewellery from the suspects.
Sources familiar with the investigations revealed that the suspects who were nabbed had links with a northern and central drug syndicate and were believed to be instrumental in mixing the powdered drugs into the packet drinks for local sale and consumption.
“The suspects are believed to have specialised in synthetic party drugs and had recently ‘introduced’ a new methamphetamine-infused cocktail drink packets with a brand name.
“Basically, the 10ml drink packets are easily consumed at entertainment outlets and did not arouse suspicion unlike popping ecstasy pills or snorting ketamine powder,” said the sources.
The popular drug-infused drink packets have been a common seizure item during police raids in entertainment outlets in the Klang Valley early this year. It is said a large drink packet can fetch up to RM350 in the Klang Valley.
Sources said the trend to ingest the drugs via harmless-looking drink packets have now made its way to entertainment outlets in south Johor.
“Federal narcotics investigators got their lead from a 35-year-old entertainment outlet manager when they stopped his car at Jalan Sutera 1 in Taman Sentosa at 4.30am on Sunday.
“Following a search, the team found the drug-infused drink packets and also a bottle with liquid methamphetamine in the suspect’s Toyota car.
Based on that, the team also made several other arrests and seizures in Stulang, Larkin and Tampoi where the other suspects were nabbed on the same day.
“The suspects are believed to be connected to the same syndicate and are believed to be active in distributing the synthetic drugs to the booming entertainment scene in south Johor,” said the sources, adding that police are not dismissing the possibility of more arrests to come.
In Johor Baru, VIP karaoke rooms are popular venues where synthetic drugs are consumed. The karaoke rooms, that can fit six to 10 people, will be converted to a “private party” with music in the background.
The Johor state police contingent is expected to hold a media conference on the success soon.
