Look closer: Comm Kumar showing one of the seized vape cartridges during the press conference.
JOHOR BARU: It was a huge week in the fight against drug syndicates with police busting two of them and seizing almost RM3mil worth of the illicit items.
Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said two special operations by the state Narcotics Crime Investigation Department also led to the arrest of six suspects, including two women.
In the first operation on Oct 15, three suspects were nabbed at an apartment here, with an assortment of drugs seized.
“Aged between 17 and 39, they tested positive for drugs, with one having a criminal record for drug involvement,” he told a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
He said the drugs seized were 5.025kg of ecstasy powder, 1.65gm of ketamine and 189ml of liquid ecstasy, with an estimated value of RM871,068.
“We also seized a car and RM1,850,” he said, adding that the total value of seized items amounted to RM1.027mil.
In the second operation held between Oct 16 and 17, he said three other suspects aged between 27 and 44 were picked up.
“It involved three separate raids at apartments in Johor Baru. The three also tested positive for drugs, with two having a criminal record,” he said.
Comm Kumar said among the items seized in the operation were vape cartridges believed to be filled with liquid containing drugs.
“We believe that these were drug-filled vape liquids based on its price. Five bottles and 10 cartridges estimated to be valued at RM27,000 were seized. Each cartridge is priced between RM200 and RM300, which is way above that of normal vape liquid.
“We have sent the liquid for testing and are awaiting the lab test result,” he added.
He said other drugs seized in the operation were 16.345kg of ecstasy pills, 225gm of ketamine, 68.87gm of syabu, 40gm of erimin 5 pills, another 115gm of ecstasy pills and 14.75gm of cannabis. A vehicle and RM160 were also seized. The total estimated value of the seizure was RM2.827mil.
Comm Kumar said both syndicates used the same modus operandi, moving from one apartment unit to another to avoid detection.
“They would rent an apartment to be used to store, process and pack the drugs. After a week or two, they will move and rent another apartment,” he said, adding that the total value of goods and drugs seized in both operations stood at RM3.899mil, with the drug value alone estimated at RM2.871mil.
He said all suspects were being remanded for seven days, with the cases being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
