2 days ago
Selangor police bust syndicate selling meth-laced vape
Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the syndicate was busted after raids on a vape retailer in Klang and a factory used to process drug-laced vape liquid in Sungai Buloh. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Selangor police have smashed a syndicate selling drug-laced vape liquid worth more than RM5 million after raids in Klang and Sungai Buloh.
Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the raids, during which two Malaysian men and 10 foreigners were arrested, marked the largest bust of drug-laced vape liquid in the state this year, reported Bernama.
Hussein said police arrested the first Malaysian at a vape retailer in Klang in a raid on Tuesday, during which 663 cartridges of vape liquid suspected to contain methamphetamine were seized. Police also seized RM1,073 in cash and a car worth RM40,000
The second Malaysian and 10 foreigners were arrested at a factory used to package drug-laced vape liquid in Sungai Buloh during a raid on Wednesday.
Police seized 4,600 vape pods and 158 plastic drums containing 865 litres of a liquid suspected to contain amphetamine and 650 litres of a liquid suspected to contain ketamine.
'The total value of the drugs seized in this case amounted to RM4.9 million,' he said.
Police also seized RM7,200 in cash, a chain worth RM3,200, three rings worth RM3,500, and a car worth RM45,000.
Hussein said the second Malaysian suspect was a business manager who had hired the 10 foreigners to work for him by marketing the vape liquid to vape retailers and transporting it to neighbouring countries by land.
The foreigners were found packaging vape liquid at the factory during the raid.
He said police were now looking for a foreigner who taught the business manager at the Sungai Buloh factory how to process vape liquid mixed with drugs.
The foreigner, who provided the raw materials to produce the vape liquid, is also believed to be the local man's business partner.
The suspects are being remanded for five to seven days to assist in the case, which is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking.
In April, deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said more state governments should ban the sale of vape as they are increasingly being laced with synthetic drugs.
Ayob said students as young as 13 have been caught using vape containing substances mixed with drugs. Fentanyl-laced vape liquids, 100 times stronger and more dangerous than morphine, have also been found, he said.
