JOHOR BARU: Police have uncovered a drug lab and seized about RM5.06mil worth of drugs after the building caught fire.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay (pic) said the drug laboratory located in a factory at the Desa Cemerlang Seri Alam industrial area was raided after it was caught on fire at about 9.40pm on Sunday (Jan 31).
He said that the drugs seized included 30kg of ketamine worth about RM1.65mil, 100 litres of liquid believed to be drugs worth about RM3.3mil and 2kg of powder believed to be drugs worth about RM110,000.
“We received information from the Fire and Rescue Department about the laboratory after firemen had put out the fire.
“Following a raid at the factory, we were able to arrest six men aged from 34 to 48 around Johor Baru,” he said in a press conference at the Johor police headquarters here Saturday (Feb 6).
He added that the laboratory is believed to have only been active for one month and could supply some 660,000 addicts.
“We believe that the laboratory is still in its trial stage and had not been able to successfully produce the drugs and distribute it.
“Five other suspects, including the mastermind of the laboratory, are still at large.
“We believe that the suspects who are still at large are businessmen who have been funding the activities in the laboratory,” he said, adding that the wanted suspects, which include one female, are between the ages of 33 and 46.
Comm Ayob added that the police also seized RM1.34mil worth of items including six cars, one motorcycle, two luxury watches, cash worth RM6,400, a variety of 15 gold items worth RM59,220 and six bank accounts with a total of RM873,042.
“The total value of drugs and other items seized are estimated to be about RM6.4mil,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.
