Syndicates peddle drug-laced cigarettes
> Police uncover new ‘Flower’ sold at RM100 a stick
KUALA LUMPUR: First they laced coffee, now police have learnt drug syndicates are using cigarettes laced with the new psychoactive substances (NPS).
City narcotics criminal investigation department (NCID) chief ACP Adnan Azizon revealed that police have detained four members of the “Gang Eddy Kuchai”, aged between 24 and 29, in raids on Saturday to Monday.
“The suspects, including two women, were arrested in Kuchai Lama, Brickfields and Cheras,” he said at a press conference at the KL police headquarters yesterday.
Adnan said in the first raid, the mastermind, a 25-year-old man, was detained at Brickfields with erimin 5 pills and ecstasy pills at 6.30pm on Saturday.
Following interrogation, police conducted a follow-up operation and detained the two women at a house in Kuchai Lama where investigators found cannabis, ketamine, and 100 cigarettes laced with NPS.
“We believe the cigarettes were laced with NPS and some other synthetic drugs. Our preliminary investigation revealed that they were meant for night clubs in the city.
“They were about to sell the cigarettes at RM100 per stick. The cigarettes were rebranded as ‘Flower’ – the drugs’ street name,” Adnan said, adding that the NPS cigarette seizure was the first of its kind in the city.
Following the duo’s detention, police arrested another man at 3.25pm on Monday at Jalan Landak.
“The man led our team to an apartment in Cheras where police confiscated powdered and liquid ecstasy,” he said.
Police also seized various other drugs worth RM251,000.
It is understood that NPS powder is known for being inserted into beverage sachets for distribution to entertainment premises due to its more extreme “high” effects.
The suspects have been remanded until Feb 10 and the cases are being investigated under Section 39 B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence.