SUNGAI PETANI: Kedah police have uncovered a heroin trafficking syndicate run by a barber and a lorry driver after raiding a house that also served as a drug laboratory on Saturday.
Kuala Muda police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail confirmed that 20.84kg of heroin and caffeine, valued at RM82,750, were seized during the 7pm raid.
The operation followed six months of intelligence gathering by the Kedah police Narcotics Investigation Department.
"The main suspect, a 48-year-old barber, was arrested at a house in Bandar Puteri Jaya, while the second suspect, a 33-year-old lorry driver, was detained in a separate raid nearby.
"In one of the rented houses, we seized 11.99kg of heroin worth RM80,550 and 8.85kg of caffeine valued at RM2,200, which were being processed into heroin in a drug lab. The second house was used to store the drugs," he said in a press conference at the district police headquarters today.
Azharuddin said that the syndicate, led by the barber, had been actively producing drugs since early this year.
"Background checks showed that the barber had a history of drug trafficking, while his accomplice had no previous record. Urine tests on the duo turned up negative," he said.
He said police also seized a Perodua Myvi, a Yamaha motorcycle, and jewellery with a total value of RM52,803 from the suspects.
Both individuals are currently under a week-long remand order, which expires on Dec 13, and are being investigated under Section 39 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The police are not ruling out the possibility of more arrests, as the investigation is still ongoing.