KUALA LUMPUR: Over RM24 million worth of drugs have been taken off the streets when police crippled the operations of three drug smuggling syndicates here.
One of the syndicates was also detected using a new modus operandi, where they hid the drugs inside buckets of sponge cake emulsifier.
Federal Narcotic Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said the syndicates were crippled following a series of raids between Oct 5 and Oct 7.
"In these three operations, 744.75kg of drugs which are believed to have been smuggled in from the north was seized and 11 suspects arrested.
"The drugs seized could supply 3,735,885 drug users," he told reporters today.
Khaw said on Oct 7, based on intelligence police raided a house, in Bandar Menjalara, Kepong and arrested a local man and two Thai women around 10.30pm.
"Upon further checks, we found 250 packets of herbal tea which contained 255.57kg of methamphetamines worth RM8.18 million," he said, adding that investigations revealed the syndicate received their supply from the northern region.
He said they also seized 125 buckets of sponge cake emulsifier during the raid.
"The syndicate used the buckets and hid the packets of drugs inside the cake emulsifier to avoid detection.
"We believe the drugs were smuggled in and stored at the house to be repacked and shipped out to international and domestic buyers," he said adding that the local man was believed to be the syndicate's storekeeper.
Meanwhile, Khaw said another operation was conducted on the same day where police raided a premises at Taman Perindustrian Kip in Kepong around 8pm.
"We arrested a 32-year-old man who is believed to be the storekeeper and transporter for the drug syndicate.
"He was unloading sacks from the boot of a car during the raid," he said, adding that they checked the vehicle and sacks and found 350 packets of apple-flavoured tea containing 357.6kg of methamphetamines worth RM11.4 million.
He said checks revealed the syndicate has been active since early this year.
"Investigations revealed that the vehicle and premises used by this drug smuggling ring were rented," he said.
Meanwhile, in another unrelated case, Khaw said raids were conducted in Johor and Kuala Lumpur on Oct 5 which led to the seizure of 111.96kg of methamphetamines, 19.49kg of ketamine, 60 erimin 5 pills, 138grams of heroin and four ecstasy pills worth RM5 million.
"We arrested a total of seven individuals following raids at two condominiums in Kuala Lumpur, a house at Rawang and a condominium at Muar, Johor.
"We believe this syndicate used luxury condominiums and vehicles belonging to deceased people to avoid detection," he said, adding that checks revealed the syndicate was believed to have used temples to hide their members.