Cops bust 18 illegal drug labs this year
JOHOR BARU: Bukit Aman has crippled 18 illegal drug processing laboratories nationwide between January and Oct 6, resulting in the arrest of 155,107 people for multiple drug offences.
Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the offenders, including 148,877 Malaysians and 6,230 foreigners, were arrested in operations with a total seizure of RM162mil worth of drugs.
A total of 793 others were arrested under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act.
“Drug lords are finding it harder to bring drugs into Malaysia, unlike before, and now choose to process them in the country,” he said at a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent headquarters yesterday.
Those who were arrested included 16,370 drug dealers, 38,684 people who possessed drugs and 100,053 who tested positive for drugs.
Comm Mohd Mokhtar said operators of illegal drug processing laboratories hired mostly foreigners with a chemical education background to work as chemists to process the drugs.
“We will intensify our operations against drug dens, drug traffickers and their operations,” he said.
Comm Mohd Mokhtar added that the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group raided an illegal drug processing laboratory in Ayer Hitam, about 90km from here, at around 7am on Saturday. It had been operational for the past three months.
“We seized 12kg of syabu worth RM550,000 produced for the domestic as well as the Singaporean and Indonesian markets,’’ said Comm Mohd Mokhtar.
He said police also seized two vehicles – a Suzuki Swift and a Toyota Hilux – and jewellery worth about RM160,000 in the operation.
Comm Mohd Mokhtar said three male suspects – a 49-year-old Malaysian and two Indian nationals aged 32 and 41 – were arrested at the laboratory and another place in Yong Peng, Batu Pahat.
The suspects have been remanded until Oct 14 to assist investigations.