JOHOR BARU, Feb 25 — Police managed to cripple a Malaysia-Singapore synthetic drug syndicate with the seizure of RM1.2 million worth of narcotics and arrest of 14 suspects in several operations here recently.
The four raids were conducted by Bukit Aman’s Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group, the federal police Narcotics Criminal investigation Department and state police from 12pm to 3.30pm last Friday.
The success was a joint effort by the police forces of both Malaysia and Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau, where both parties shared information based on intelligence gathering.
Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said the syndicate’s operations were crippled following four raids in Taman Mount Austin, Taman Jaya Jaya and Stulang Laut, here, including a mini laboratory.
“Those arrested included seven local men, five Singaporean men, a Thai woman and a Singaporean woman.
“The suspects are aged between 19 and 65 and six of them were found positive for drugs abuse,” he said at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.
The seized drugs are 12.8kg of syabu (crystal methamphetamine), ecstasy (4,333 pills), Erimin 5 (200 pills) and 0.95kg of ketamine.
During the raids, police also seized a BMW, a Toyota Altis, a Kia Optima, a Nissan X-Trail and a Proton Wira worth RM423,000.
Mohd Khalil said initial investigations revealed that the syndicate was active in the local market since last month.
“All suspects have been remanded for seven days until March 2 for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said.
Johor is popular with synthetic drug syndicates that base their operations in the state. Over the years, syndicates have based their operations in the state capital to capture both the local and also very lucrative Singapore markets.
