Penang cops bust drugs syndicate

GEORGE TOWN: Police busted a syndicate involved in the distribution of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) at entertainment centres following the arrest of two men in a series of raids in the northeast district.

They also seized various types of drugs worth RM60,086 last Thursday.

Northeast district police chief ACP Razlam Ab Hamid said investigations found that the two men were skilled in processing MDMA with several other types of drugs before mixing them into instant drink packs and selling them at entertainment centres around the city centre here.

“The first man, aged 22, was arrested at 3.30pm at a food court here and police seized 0.93g of ketamine from him. His friend, 24, was then arrested beside a house of worship in Macallum Street at 8.50pm the same day,” he told BK here yesterday.

He said police then seized 50 sticks of cigarettes, each containing a mixture of tobacco and “mushroom” type drugs estimated to weigh 65.74g, before raiding a rented house in the Macallum area which was used as a place to process MDMA and mushroom-laced cigarettes.

He said that in the raid on their rented house, police seized various types of drugs, including MDMA that had been processed and mixed into instant drink packs, 40 sticks of cigarettes containing mushrooms, ketamine, ganja, Erimin 5 and ecstasy pills, as well drug-processing paraphernalia.

ACP Razlam said the two suspects were believed to have sold each pack of instant drinks containing MDMA at entertainment centres around the city centre for between RM150 and RM250, while the mushroom-laced cigarettes were sold at RM80 per stick.

“They are believed to have started selling the drugs since January and investigations found that they obtained their supplies from a drug syndicate,” he said, adding that the suspects have been remanded for a week.

In another development, ACP Razlam said police arrested an entertainment centre worker suspected of being involved in the distribution of drugs during a raid at the centre and seized various types of drugs worth RM4,000 from him last Saturday.

He said the 26-year-old, who was detained at 1.55am under Op Hiburan, led a lavish lifestyle, including owning a BMW X4 car.

“The man, who tested positive for drugs and who has been carrying out his illegal activity on his own, is believed to have processed MDMA before mixing them into drink packs,” he said.

Police also confiscated the luxury car and the man has been remanded for a week for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.