Bukit aman: The Royal Malaysia Police's (PDRM) Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) dismantled a drug processing syndicate suspected of producing Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) valued at RM27.5 million in this district and Kuala Lumpur during Operation Thrips yesterday. In the operation, the 52-year-old main suspect was shot dead after he fired at the raiding team at a terraced house around 1.30 pm.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bukit Aman NCID director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan revealed that the house, rented by the suspect, had been used as a laboratory for drug processing since the beginning of the year. During the raid, police confiscated suspected MDMA, including 64.49 kilograms of liquid, 5.2 kilograms of drug lumps, 7.9 kilograms of drug pills, 104.8 kilograms of drug powder, and various drug-processing equipment.
Hussein stated that the suspect, with assistance from other syndicate members, imported drug-processing precursors from abroad. The deceased suspect had expertise in converting chemicals into MDMA or ecstasy, confirming his long-standing involvement in drug-related activities since the 1990s. He had three previous arrests and imprisonment records under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The main suspect was also wanted under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961 and had a prior criminal record under Section 448 of the Penal Code. Hussein added that the syndicate strategically used residential areas with low population density for processing and distributing drugs to avoid detection by authorities.
The drugs were believed to be targeted for both local and international markets, and police are actively pursuing other suspects who are thought to have fled abroad. In related developments, police conducted two separate raids in Seremban 2 and a house in Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur, resulting in the arrest of a 32-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man, both of whom tested positive for methamphetamine and THC, respectively, and had prior criminal records, including drug-related offences. They have been remanded for seven days until September 13.
Police also seized three cars related to the case, which is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code and Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Hussein concluded that the seizure could potentially prevent drug distribution to more than 400,000 users.