BUKIT MERTAJAM: Bukit Aman's anti-narcotics team busted a drug processing 'factory' in Bukit Tengah and seized numerous types of drugs worth RM72.5 million in a raid early this week.
The drug seizure is believed to be the biggest since 1996.
The operation, which started on Wednesday night, was conducted with assistance from Penang and Perak state police.
Its Narcotics Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said the raid was held following the arrest of two men and a woman, aged between 30 and 46, at Pengkalan Hulu, Perak on Tuesday.
“The trio were detained upon their return from a neighboring country. They then led our team to the Bukit Tengah 'factory' the next day.
Bukit Tengah is an industrial area located in Central Seberang Perai district in Penang.
“At the 'factory', the team found 2.13 million Erimin 5 pills, 742.6 kg of Erimin 5 powder, 27.3kg syabu, 5,080 ecstasy pills and 53.7kg of liquid chemical,” he told a press conference at the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters today.
Also present were Penang police chief Datuk Seri A. Thaiveegan and Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid.
Mohmad said the trio were experts in processing and producing Erimin 5 pills.
He added that police believed they have identified the mastermind behind the syndicate.
“We have identified the person behind this and are in the midst of tracking him down, including other syndicate members.
“This is the largest drug haul since 1996 and our team will not rest until we eradicate drug problems in the country,” he added.
Mohmad said the police team also seized RM426,000 cash in a bank account, two luxury vehicles, cash and jewelleries, all worth about RM1.1 million.
“We also seized a number of machines worth RM500,000 used to process the drugs.” he said.
He said the police managed to locate the suspects following cooperation with Police Narcotics Suppresion Bureau Thailand (PNSB) and National Narcotics Control Commision of China (NNCC).