SUBANG JAYA: Police raid on a rented house which was used to store drugs led to the discovery of over a quarter tonne of methamphetamines worth nearly RM11million.
The seized drug could have been used to supply 1.65 million drug users, federal Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said.
He said the success stemmed from the arrest of a 34-year-old man who was stopped while driving a Proton Saga at Sri Petaling about 10.50pm last Friday.
The suspect, believed to be a drug runner, led police to a double storey terrace house at Bandar Bukit Puchong where 319 packets of herbal tea which actually contained drugs were found in one of the rooms.
Khaw said police later arrested another runner, a 30-year old man, who was driving a Hyundai along Jalan Puchong Jaya here.
Police believe the arrested duo were hired as runners for a syndicate which had been actively distributing drugs in the city centre and surrounding areas.
The older suspect was paid RM5,000 for his services, while the younger one, who is believed to be a senior in the syndicate was paid between RM7,000 and RM8,000.
The suspects had allegedly rented the house for RM1,800 a month to store the drugs.
Police had also forfeited RM10,270 worth of jewellery and the two vehicles worth RM60,000 used by the suspects.
"We believe the syndicate used the house to store the drugs before they distribute them to domestic buyers.
"They rented the house in Sept but we believe the syndicate has been active since early this year," Khaw said, adding that the two suspects had been remanded for a week to facilitate investigations.
He said checks revealed one of the suspect had three prior criminal records while the other had one prior criminal record.
"We are investigating where the syndicate received its supply from.
"We are also conducting further intelligence gathering in order to track the syndicates network including other members still at large," he said.