GEORGE TOWN: Police have crippled a drug syndicate believed to be actively distributing MDMA powder across Penang, in a series of raids in George Town and Seberang Jaya.
They seized RM3.4 million worth of the drugs in the process.
The operations, conducted between 4pm yesterday and 3am today, led to the arrest of five local men and two foreign women, aged between 31 and 54.
Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the suspects were detained following intelligence and weeks of surveillance on the group’s activities.
“In the first and second raids at a car park in George Town, police arrested a local man and a foreign woman.
“Guided by information obtained from the suspects, police then seized drugs from a nearby residence,” he said in a statement.
Among the items seized were 22 multi-coloured plastic packets containing MDMA powder weighing 755.9g, 213 similar packets weighing 5.5kg of suspected MDMA, and a clear plastic packet with 17.5g of ketamine.
Azizee said further investigations led police to a house in Seberang Jaya, where four local men and a foreign woman were arrested.
The follow-up raid resulted in additional seizures, including three red-capped plastic jars containing 2.66kg of suspected MDMA powder and 12 plastic packages with 438 transparent packets containing 14.53kg of MDMA powder.
“Based on intelligence, the syndicate has been actively distributing drugs since mid-2025.
“The total drugs seized could have been used by about 100,000 people, or for 100,000 doses,” added Azizee.
He said urine tests showed one suspect tested positive for methamphetamine, while three others tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine and ketamine.
Police checks also revealed that three of the suspects have prior criminal and drug-related records.
Under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, police also seized two vehicles — a Nissan Teana and a Proton Preve — worth about RM40,000.
“The total value of the drug and asset seizures amounted to RM3,399,851,” he said.
All seven suspects have been remanded for seven days, from today till Nov 6, to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking.
Anyone found guilty for trafficking is liable to be given the death penalty or life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane.
“This success stems from continuous intelligence efforts by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department and public cooperation,” said Azizee.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
