JOHOR BARU: A police raid on two separate luxury apartment units here led to the arrest of four suspects, including two Vietnamese women, and drug seizures worth more than RM2.6mil.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the special operation was conducted between 2.15pm on Aug 19 and 12am on Aug 20, targeting a drug syndicate believed to have been active since April this year.
“Based on intelligence gathering, police raided a luxury apartment unit and arrested a local man along with two Vietnamese nationals, aged between 29 and 33,” he said during a press conference held at the state police headquarters here on Monday (Aug 25).
Checks on the premises uncovered more than 7,000g of methylenedioxymethamphetamine powder valued at over RM1.1mil.
Police also seized 39 packets of ecstasy powder weighing 1,256g worth RM11,700, 11g of ketamine valued at RM2,200, and 230 ecstasy pills worth RM11,523.
Police also confiscated drug-processing and repackaging equipment, RM7,050 in cash, and two gold rings worth RM4,300 from the first location.
“Following the success of the initial raid, police launched another operation at a separate luxury apartment unit between 6pm on Aug 20 and 3.30am on Aug 21,” he said.
In the second raid, police arrested a 45-year-old local man and seized 8,340g of methylenedioxymethamphetamine powder worth more than RM1.3mil.
They also found 5,610g of ecstasy powder valued at RM50,700, 11.25g of ketamine worth RM2,250, 10 ecstasy pills, and four Erimin 5 pills worth RM80.
Police confiscated additional processing tools and a car worth RM30,000 during the second operation.
Comm Ab Rahaman said all four suspects were part of the same syndicate and were under remand until Wednesday (Aug 27) to assist in investigations.
The total value of the seized drugs was estimated at more than RM2.6mil.
“Three of the suspects tested positive for drugs, while one of the male suspects has prior criminal records,” he said.
The syndicate had been renting luxury apartments to store and process the drugs before distributing them to entertainment outlets around here.
Investigations are being conducted under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The two foreign women are also being investigated under Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
