Penang cops seize drugs, fake tea worth RM1m
GEORGE TOWN: Penang police have uncovered a drug-processing laboratory operating off a shophouse in the Seberang Prai Selatan district and seized nearly RM1 million worth of heroin and fake herbal tea recently.
Among the items seized were heroin worth RM167,100 and fake herbal tea worth RM753,000.
Penang police chief Datuk T. Narenasagaran said police detained two men, a 60-year-old local and a 40-year-old Myanmar national, involved in a drug trafficking syndicate, during the raid on March 28 between 1.20pm and 7.45pm.
He said police detained one of the men earlier in the day, which led police to the shophouse at the upper floor, rented by the syndicate, believed to be used to process heroin.
“We believe they have been operating for the past six months. We are investigating the links and where they are supplying the drugs to. The (seized) heroin was enough for the consumption of more than 15,000 drug addicts.
“The local man had past records for drug-related offences. We believe the drugs were processed and packed by the two men,” he said here yesterday.
In the raid, police seized 6.1kg of heroin, 383gm of heroin base and 25kg caffeine, along with other chemical substances used to process the heroin.
They also seized 1,760 boxes of herbal tea.
Narenasagaran, however, said the police had yet to ascertain if the herbal tea, packed in tea bags, contained drugs. The samples will be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
Police also seized three vehicles worth RM167,500, RM34,400 cash and RM442,227.55 in a bank account.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 272 of the Penal Code.