KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Police crippled a major drug syndicate and uncovered two illegal laboratories in Kepong last week, seizing nearly 3.6 tonnes of ecstasy worth an estimated RM598.9 million.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the bust, codenamed Op Pine, was carried out by the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) on September 10 following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The morning raids, conducted at several industrial premises in Kepong and a house in Dataran Templer, Selangor, also led to the arrest of four local men aged between 34 and 51.
“Based on our investigations, one of them acted as the coordinator, another as the chemist responsible for producing the drugs, the third as an assistant, and the fourth served as the transporter,” Mohd Khalid told reporters at a press conference here today.
Police seized a total of 3,586.45kg of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), better known as ecstasy, which could have been supplied to around 12 million users if it had reached the streets.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail with the seized drugs, September 17, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
The raids also uncovered:
- 136 drums and a plastic container of liquid suspected to be MDMA (3,330kg);
- 563 glass bottles of chemical liquids (1,200kg);
- Eight drums and six plastic bags of chemical powder (213.7kg);
- Two plastic packages and a plastic drum of MDMA powder/chunks (25.3kg);
- One plastic container and 10 plastic drums of liquid MDMA (231.15kg);
- 41 plastic drums and two glass bottles of chemical liquids (947.35kg);
- One plastic container and two plastic packages of chemical powder (52.4kg);
- Various drug-processing equipment.
In addition, police confiscated several vehicles, including a Toyota Vellfire, Toyota Unser, Toyota Caldina, Proton X70, Mazda 6, and a Toyota forklift. Authorities also seized RM2,000 in cash, a ring, and several gold-coloured coins, with total frozen assets amounting to RM336,224.
Mohd Khalid said preliminary checks revealed that one of the suspects had a prior drug-related offence under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Urine tests showed that only one suspect — the transporter — tested positive for ketamine.
Pictures of the seizures including seized drugs. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
“All suspects have been remanded for seven days, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment with whipping,” he said.
The IGP added that the syndicate, believed to have been operating since July, rented industrial premises as makeshift laboratories to process the drugs before distributing them locally and abroad such as Indonesia and Australia.
“This success proves that continuous intelligence work, firm enforcement, and community support are key in the fight against drugs. Let me be clear, the Police will not compromise with anyone involved in the drug trade,” Mohd Khalid said.
He urged the public to share information on drug activities through the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222, assuring that all tip-offs would be handled confidentially.
“Drugs remain the nation’s number one enemy. We will continue to ensure that our children and future generations are protected from this threat,” he said.
