Kuala Selangor: Eight Taiwanese nationals and a local citizen faced charges at the Magistrate's Court today for trafficking in dangerous drugs weighing a total of 489.7 kilograms on January 16.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Taiwanese individuals charged include Lee Chi-Nan, 29, Chou Chun-Hao, Hong Sheng-Bao, Liu Kuang-Hui, Tseng Yi-Chia, 31, Lin Chung-Hsien, 32, Fan Ming-Che, 34, and Chu Shao-Hsien, 42. The local individual was identified as Low Kian Ming, 49. The accused acknowledged the charges when read out to them, though no confession was recorded.

The charges relate to trafficking Ecstasy and Erimin 5, with estimated weights of 183.7 kg and 306 kg respectively. The alleged offenses took place at Taman Industri Alam Jaya 2, Bandar Puncak Alam in Kuala Selangor at 2:20 pm on January 16. The charges fall under Section 39B(1)(c) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, carrying penalties under Section 39B(2) and read together with Section 34 of the same Act. The accused face the possibility of the death penalty, or life imprisonment and whipping not exceeding 12 times if not sentenced to death.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Nor Hakimi Mohamad Rosedin led the prosecution, while the accused were unrepresented by legal counsel. Magistrate Siti Hajar Ali has set April 21, 2025, for the mention of the case and preparation of the chemical report.

Media reports from January 19 indicated that police dismantled a drug processing laboratory, believed to be operated by an international syndicate, during three raids in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur on January 16. Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin stated that the raids resulted in the arrest of a local man, 10 foreign men, and a woman aged between 20 and 50, with seizures of drugs and firearms valued at approximately RM120 million.