Seven held as drug-laced vape liquid worth RM10.68mil seized in Johor

JOHOR BAHRU – Police here arrested seven people and seized drugs and other items worth RM10.8 million in five separate raids last Sunday, uncovering a syndicate that used a condominium as a packing centre for vape liquid containing drugs.

Johor deputy police chief Deputy Commissioner Hoo Chuan Huat said the operation, carried out around Kulai, Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri and Muar, began at 11am.

Those detained were five local men, one foreign man and one foreign woman, aged between 36 and 46.

"The first raid at a petrol station at the Kulai Rest and Service (R&R) area 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 today.

"The second raid on a condominium in Bandar Medini, Iskandar Puteri uncovered a store used for packing and filling vape liquid. Here, police seized 127.55 litres of methamphetamine liquid, two packets of cocaine weighing 0.41kg, 40g 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 hold key roles in the syndicate.

"Investigations found the first suspect was a transporter, the second suspect was the wife of the first suspect, while the third suspect looked after the packing and filling store. The fourth suspect was a runner, the fifth received equipment parcels, the sixth assisted the syndicate's operations and the seventh is believed to be the mastermind," Hoo said.

The total seizure was estimated at 210.43kg with a street value of RM10.68 million, enough to supply 649,096 addicts had it reached the market.

Urine tests found two suspects positive for methamphetamine, while four had criminal and drug records. All seven have been remanded for seven days from Aug 3 to assist investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.