Latest news with #FederalPoliceNarcoticsCriminalInvestigationDepartment
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sinar Daily
Police dismantle illegal vape drug lab in Ampang, RM21.85 million in drugs seized
Five suspects, three Taiwanese men, a local man and a Vietnamese woman aged between 20 and 37 were arrested. Police have successfully bust an illegal drug laboratory used to produce drugs-laced vape liquids, seizing an estimated RM21.92 million worth of drugs and assets in two separate raids on luxury condominium units in Ampang, Selangor. Photo by Bernama SHAH ALAM – Police have successfully bust an illegal drug laboratory used to produce drugs-laced vape liquids, seizing an estimated RM21.92 million worth of drugs and assets in two separate raids on luxury condominium units in Ampang, Selangor. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan during a press conference today. Photo by Bernama Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the raids were conducted on June 25 at about 4.10pm by the Federal Police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID). Five suspects, three Taiwanese men, a local man and a Vietnamese woman aged between 20 and 37 were arrested. 'In the first raid, we arrested four individuals and seized a range of drugs along with equipment used to produce vape liquids. 'In the second raid, at a separate condominium unit, we arrested another Taiwanese man, aged 28 and seized additional drugs,' he said during a press conference at the Selangor Police Headquarters on Tuesday. In total, police seized 124.74 kilogrammes of liquid suspected to contain methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 2.8 kilogrammes of cocaine powder, 0.041 kilogrammes of cannabis and 21 vape cartridges believed to contain either MDMA or cocaine. Hussein said the amount seized considered potent enough to potentially harm over 638,000 users. Initial investigations revealed that one of the suspects acted as the group's chemist, while the others played supporting roles, serving as runners and assistants. He said that the syndicate is believed to have been operating since October 2024. 'Their modus operandi involved renting two luxury condominium units at RM6,000 per unit per month, which they converted into makeshift drug labs to process vape liquids for both local and international distribution. 'Authorities estimate the syndicate generated a monthly profit of around RM200,000 from drug trafficking activities,' he said. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment and no fewer than twelve strokes of the cane upon conviction. He further said that five suspects have been remanded from June 26 to July 2 to assist in the ongoing investigation. Urine tests showed that only the fifth suspect tested positive for morphine. Meanwhile, Hussein said that background checks found that two of the suspects had previous criminal records in Taiwan. The second suspect was wanted for document forgery and had prior offences related to fraud, criminal intimidation and drug activities, while the third suspect had records for public disturbance and causing injury. Authorities had also taken action under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, seizing assets estimated to be worth RM530,513.50. Confiscated items included a Perodua Bezza car, five luxury watches, RM12,698 in local currency, TWD21,100 in Taiwanese dollars, USD$3,000 in cash, a bracelet and an laptop. The combined total value of all seized drugs and property amounts to RM21.92 million.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sinar Daily
Police smash major MDMA "juice" syndicate, seize RM5 million in drugs
SHAH ALAM – Thirteen individuals have been arrested following six coordinated raids by Federal Police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), which uncovered two clandestine laboratories producing the Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-laced synthetic drug 'juice.' Authorities seized drugs valued at RM5.03 million in the large-scale operation conducted on June 26 between 2pm and 5pm. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed the arrests, which included twelve local men and one Vietnamese woman aged between 20 and 41. He said the syndicate was dismantled following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering. 'These labs were sophisticated setups hidden in residential areas and operated by individuals with defined roles. "Some acted as chemists, others as runners, all working together in a network that's been active since December 2022. "We found 1,488 juice boxes suspected to contain MDMA, amounting to 372.62 kg,' he said during a press conference at the Selangor Police Headquarters on Tuesday. Hussein further stated that the first raid took place at a terraced house in Ampang, Selangor, where three local men were arrested. He said that police uncovered a fully operational drug lab processing MDMA into juice, along with ecstasy pills, Erimin 5 tablets and other related substances. A second raid in Pandan Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, resulted in the arrest of six suspects namely, five local men and the Vietnamese woman at another illicit juice lab. Officers also recovered hundreds of bottles containing MDMA-laced liquid, ketamine, ecstasy pills, cannabis, Erimin 5 tablets and more MDMA processing equipment from both the residence and a vehicle. Subsequent raids in parking lots across Kuchai Lama, Taman Permata, Kuchai Jaya and Taman Connaught resulted in the arrest of four more local men, with significant quantities of MDMA-laced liquid recovered from their vehicles. 'In total, we seized 689.24 kg of MDMA in liquid form, 1.68 kg of MDMA powder, 25.4 kg of ketamine, 5.3 kg of ecstasy pills and nearly 0.73 kg of Erimin 5,' he added. Hussein revealed that several suspects functioned as 'chemists' in the operation while others acted as runners, receiving payments ranging from RM3,000 to RM25,000 monthly. The syndicate, believed to have been active since December 2022, used rented terraced homes as production sites and transported products in private vehicles for distribution in local markets. He stated that all thirteen suspects have been remanded under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, facing potential sentences of death or life imprisonment and at least twelve strokes of the cane. Eleven suspects were remanded for seven days from June 27 to July 3, while one, identified as the alleged coordinator, remained in custody for three additional days from June 29 to July 2. According to Hussein, preliminary urine tests indicated nine of the thirteen tested positive for ketamine, methamphetamine, or benzodiazepines; the remaining four tested negative.
