JOHOR BARU: Police have busted a drug trafficking syndicate targeting patrons at entertainment centres with the arrest of 14 persons including eight foreigners.
Drugs worth over RM1.6mil were also seized.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said one of the suspects nabbed was the mastermind, a 36-year-old male foreigner.
He said police conducted a 10-day operation, raiding nine locations in Kulai, Iskandar Puteri, Seri Alam and Mersing.
“The confiscated drugs were of various types,” he told reporters at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
Comm Kamarul Zaman said the drugs included Erimin 5 pills, syabu, heroin, ketamine and ganja.
He said the suspects, who included five ladies, were aged between 21 and 48.
Police also seized a vehicle valued at RM300,000 that belonged to the mastermind.
“Checks revealed that nine of them have criminal records. They also tested positive for ketamine and methamphetamine,” he said, adding that police also confiscated jewellery worth RM44,441 and a watch valued at RM45,000.
Comm Kamarul Zaman said the suspects’ modus operandi was to peddle the drugs at entertainment centres in the state.
“Erimin 5 pills are usually consumed by partygoers to calm down after partying.
“They usually take other drugs, such as ecstasy, before partying,” he said, adding that the pills were sold for RM15 each.
Comm Kamarul Zaman added that the syndicate used houses and condominiums in gated areas to store the drugs.
“The group has been active since October, and we are investigating who is their supplier,” he said, adding that all 14 suspects had been remanded until Jan 21 to help with the investigation.
