Police uncover drug-processing lab at Seri Pinang flats, suspect nabbed
Picking up drug-processing skills from the Internet, a man managed to rake in tens of thousands of ringgit over the last six months.
His lucrative “business”, however, was put paid to when police raided his residential unit at the Seri Pinang flats in Butterworth on Sunday.
Acting on a tip-off, Seberang Prai Utara police chief Assistant Commissioner Noorzainy Mohd Noor said police conducted surveillance of the 29-year-old’s unit, then raided it to find a drug-processing laboratory.
“Police seized drugs worth RM15,000. Among them were 50g of syabu, 51 Yaba pills, 45 Ecstasy pills and three Eramin-5 pills, along with drug-processing equipment.”
Noorzainy said investigation revealed the man was staying alone at the unit to master the art of manufacturing Yaba pills.
“He was able to produce 200 pills daily, which he sold for RM15 each. The unit belongs to his father and the pills were meant for the local market,” he said, adding that the suspect, who tested positive for drugs, had been remanded for a week. Noorzainy said the man had a drugrelated record.
“We believe that he may be a member of a drug distribution syndicate. We are tracking down its network,” he said, adding that police seized a Toyota Vios worth about RM27,000.
The case is being investigated for trafficking under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
On a separate case, Noorzainy said police detained an unemployed 19-year-old man in front of the Taman Bagan Lalang flats in Butterworth, also on Sunday, while he was waiting for customers to buy drugs.
Police seized 70g of syabu worth about RM10,500 from the suspect.
“A team conducting Op Tapis (an antinarcotics operation) stumbled upon the man who was behaving suspiciously about 3am. We checked his bag and found the drugs inside,” he said, adding that the man tested positive for drugs and had been remanded for a week.
Police seized a Perodua Axia and RM1,000 cash, believed to be proceeds from drug sales, from the suspect.