Couple supplied chemicals to drug lab, say police
GEORGE TOWN: Two of the three suspects arrested in a recent drug bust in Butterworth are believed to be the suppliers of the chemicals found at the drug laboratory uncovered by police.
Sources told the New Straits Times that the 46-year-old man was the owner of a shop on the mainland selling chemicals while the 38-year-old woman was a worker there.
Both were believed to be in a relationship.
“Police have examined the substances found at the shop and the ones at the drug lab.
“It is believed the chemicals came from the shop.”
On Monday, police uncovered a drug-processing laboratory at a three-storey terrace house in Lebuh Sungai Pinang here at 10.10pm following the arrest of a 52-year-old jobless man at a condominium car park in Solok Tanjung Bungah an hour earlier.
State police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said during the raid, police seized 1.82kg of syabu, 2.64kg of heroin, 5.2 litres of liquid syabu, 13.8 litres of ethanol and other chemicals and apparatus with a street value of RM1.9 million.
He said police seized cash worth RM255,000, three cars, four handbags and two watches.
He said police arrested the couple at a single-storey terrace house in Taman Bagan, Butterworth, about 1.15pm the next day. They were believed to be the accomplices of the 52-year-old man.
In the house, police found 3.35kg of syabu and 125kg of caffeine, the street value of which was RM294,500.
Cash totalling RM73,050 and two cars were seized in the second raid.
“The drugs seized at both the premises were worth RM2.2 million and the items seized about RM1.07 million.
“Further investigation will probably uncover more suspects,” he said at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
Chuah said that the syndicate was believed to be operating for the past four months.
He said the 52-year-old suspect processed the drugs to be sold in the local market.
“The two male suspects tested positive for drugs during the arrest.”
The trio were remanded until May 15 under Section 39B of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking, which carries a mandatory death sentence.