Penang: Penang police successfully dismantled a drug processing laboratory and busted a drug trafficking syndicate in a series of raids across the Timur Laut district on Monday and yesterday, seizing drugs estimated to be worth RM3.43 million. State police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the integrated operation by the Penang Contingent Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, carried out from 4 pm on Monday until 9 am yesterday, led to the arrest of three individuals, including a foreign woman, and the seizure of various types of drugs.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the operation was carried out following intelligence gathering, which uncovered a house being used as a drug processing laboratory for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In the first raid, police arrested a man in a parking area on Lebuh Macallum before he led them to a residence used as a drug processing laboratory for the syndicate. During the house inspection, they seized 22 kg of MDMA, 133 g of ketamine, 38 g of ganja, 294 ecstasy pills, 40 Erimin 5 pills, and various drug-processing equipment.

Azizee stated that follow-up raids at separate locations resulted in the arrest of another local man and a foreign woman, both believed to be accomplices of the syndicate. Initial investigations found that the syndicate had been active since October last year, focusing on the local market, and the seized drugs were believed to be sufficient for use by nearly 50,000 addicts.

Two of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine and also had prior drug-related records. Police also seized various assets, including three vehicles, jewellery, and cash worth RM34,940.80, bringing the total value of the drugs and items seized to an estimated RM3.46 million.

Azizee mentioned that all suspects, aged between 33 and 48, have been remanded until April 6 to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.