SHAH ALAM: A drug syndicate here has taken to inserting synthetic drugs into beverage sachets to be sold at entertainment outlets or via social media.
Selangor Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy chief Superintendent R. Sundralingam said 61 instant beverage sachets, which have been filled with the synthetic drugs or new psychoactive substances (NPS) worth RM217,0000, were confiscated during a raid on Monday.
The syndicate, made up of four men in their 20s and a 17-year-old girl, is believed to have employed the tactic for the past one year.
All five have been remanded until Monday and they tested positive for methamphetamine.
"The syndicate was found to have inserted NPS into empty beverage sachets of various brands. We believe they have purchased the empty sachets and had packaged it themselves. It made it easier for them to sell the drugs and to avoid detection.
"They have been active for eight months and our investigations revealed that one sachet is sold between RM100 and RM300. They would sell it to users at entertainment outlets as well as their friends via social media.
"NPS is a new drug which has yet to be gazetted in the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Its effects are worse than other synthetic drugs like syabu or ice. We are also investigating the source of the drug and how it was obtained," said Sundralingam.
Sundralingam said this in a press conference at the Selangor police contingent headquarters on Friday.
Meanwhile, Sundralingam said the department had seized various drugs worth RM823,000 in several raids held earlier this month.
Until Oct this year, a total of 16,075 people who are believed to have been involved in drugs were arrested, while 728 are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Translated from Berita Harian