Kuala Lumpur: Police busted a drug trafficking syndicate known as the Alstonia Gang after arresting nine suspects, including a foreign woman, and seizing various types of drugs worth RM5.11 million in five separate raids around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan stated that among those arrested were the gang leader, a local man working as an e-hailing driver, and his foreign lover, who are believed to have been actively involved in drug trafficking activities for the past eight months.
During the first raid at a house in Bukit Jalil around 5.50 pm, police apprehended a man and a foreign woman, seizing MDMA powder and juices suspected of containing drugs, with a total weight of 4,656 grammes and 3,000 millilitres, respectively.
The second raid took place at a house in Semenyih, leading to the arrest of a man and the seizure of powdery substances believed to be MDMA, weighing 230 grammes. This was followed by a third raid at 6.10 pm in Puchong, where a male suspect was detained and 966.10 grammes of ecstasy were confiscated.
At 10.30 pm, a fourth raid was conducted on a house in Kajang, resulting in the arrest of a man and the seizure of 110 vape cartridges suspected of containing 2,880 grammes of drugs. The suspect also led police to another house in Kajang, where MDMA powder weighing 21,452 grammes, ketamine (4,722 grammes), ecstasy pills (641 grammes), and erimin 5 pills weighing an estimated 1,960 grammes were seized.
Following interrogation, police arrested three men and a woman around Selangor and Kuala Lumpur believed to be associated with the syndicate. In addition to the syndicate leader and his lover, who has lived in the country for 10 years, seven other suspects, all aged between 24 and 38, were identified as food traders, personal shoppers, and barbers.
Six of the suspects tested positive for drugs, while three tested negative. Additionally, three of them had previous criminal and drug-related records. The syndicate reportedly targeted entertainment centres around the Klang Valley to sell drugs via face-to-face interactions and online.
Police also seized five vehicles, including a Proton Preve, Toyota Vios, Hyundai Sonata, BMW 320i, and Honda Civic, along with jewellery, watches, LV-brand handbags, and various cash denominations. The total seizure amounted to RM341,449.16.
Hussein emphasized that the success of these operations was due to two months of intelligence work, and all suspects have been remanded for seven days. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.