Wife and lovers in the gang

KAJANG: Not only is he believed to be the mastermind of a drug syndicate, this 24-year-old man, who also acted as its chemist, had roped in his wife and even lovers to help him run the “business”.

This was what the police uncovered after they busted a drug syndicate and shut down a processing lab operating from a house at a luxurious housing estate in Semenyih, Selangor.

The operation carried out by Bukit Aman Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID) also saw more than 300kg of drugs seized.

NCID director Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said initial investigation revealed that the main suspect – the mastermind – was in charge of the syndicate’s operations, including drug processing and distribution.

“His wife and lovers are believed to have been used to rent the house as well as a condominium, and to manage the syndicate’s finances.

“Other syndicate members worked as runners and transporters. We believe they have been operating for about a year,” he told a press conference at the Kajang police headquarters yesterday.

Eight men and five women aged between 21 and 51 were arrested in three raids conducted in Kajang and Kuala Lumpur last Friday.

“Police stopped and inspected a vehicle on the Cheras-Kajang Expressway and seized 2.4kg of heroin.

“Further investigation led the raiding team to the house, where 7.31kg of heroin, 4.5kg of chemicals and 13.644kg of liquid containing drugs were seized along with equipment to process drugs.

“The last raid was a condominium at KL Sentral. We seized 26.25kg of syabu, 55.33kg of heroin and 4.208kg of ganja,” he said.

Police estimate the drugs are worth RM1.48mil and could have been supplied to 465,386 users.

“Five of the suspects have criminal records while two of them tested positive for THC.

“All of them have been remanded until May 3,” said Comm Khaw.

Several of the syndicate’s assets, with an estimated value of RM1.08mil, were also seized, including 13 vehicles and RM213,000 in cash and jewellery.

Investigations revealed that the vehicle that police had inspected was a rented one, the house in Semenyih was rented for RM2,000 a month while the syndicate paid RM3,200 in rent for the condominium unit.

Police believe the syndicate would distribute the drugs to smaller dealers based on orders and would use couriers to traffic the substances.