Seven held as Johor police seize RM10.8mil in drugs from vape-liquid syndicate
A condominium unit in Bandar Medini was allegedly used as a packing and filling store for drug-laced vape liquid.
JOHOR BAHRU – Police arrested seven people and seized drugs and other items worth RM10.8 million in five separate raids last Sunday, uncovering a smuggling syndicate that used a condominium as a packing centre for vape liquid containing drugs.
Johor deputy police chief Deputy Comissioner Hoo Chuan Huat said the operation around Kulai, Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri and Muar began at 11am.
Those detained were five local men, a foreign man and a foreign woman, aged between 36 and 46.
"The first raid at a petrol station at the Kulai rest and service area (R&R) led to the arrest of a local man and a foreign woman. Police found 9,000 vape cartridges containing methamphetamine liquid weighing 82.40kg and worth RM4.12 million in a Honda BR-V," he told a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters yesterday.
"The second raid on a condominium in Bandar Medini, Iskandar Puteri uncovered a store for packing and filling vape liquid. Here police seized 127.55 litres of methamphetamine liquid, two packets of cocaine weighing 0.41kg, 40 grams of ketamine as well as machines and equipment used to fill vape liquid."
A third raid in Taman Sutera Utama led to the arrest of a local man and the seizure of heroin, Erimin 5 pills and ecstasy pills. Two further raids in Mutiara Rini and Tanjung Agas, Muar netted three more local men believed to have played key roles in the syndicate.
Investigations found the first suspect was a transporter, the second was his wife, the third guarded the packing and filling store, the fourth was a runner, the fifth received equipment parcels, the sixth assisted the syndicate's operations and the seventh is believed to be the mastermind, Chuan Huat said.
The total drug haul was estimated at 210.43kg with a market value of RM10.68 million, believed capable of supplying 649,096 addicts had it reached the market.
Urine tests found two suspects positive for methamphetamine, while checks showed four had criminal and drug records. All the suspects were remanded for seven days from Aug 3 to assist investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
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