Muar (The Star/ANN) - Police in Malaysian state of Johor have made the biggest seizure of illegal drugs in which 70 million ringgit (US$22.76 million) worth of narcotics were recovered from a drug-processing and distribution ring in Muar.
Seven people were detained in Sunday's operation, which was carried out at five premises, including three units of a gated apartment block along Jalan Junid here.
A H&K MP7 submachine gun and ammunition were also found.
Johor police chief Deputy Comm Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said police believed they had smashed a major drug ring in Muar.
"The drugs seized include syabu, heroin, Ecstasy, Eramine 5, ketamine and caffeine, which were estimated to be worth about 68 million ringgit.
"Investigations by the Muar and Johor Baru police revealed that the drugs were meant for distribution in Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and overseas.
"The seized drugs can be supplied to more than 2.2 million addicts," he said at a press conference at the Muar police station yesterday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohd Mokhtar said the seven, aged between 24 and 50, included two women.
They were detained when the premises were raided at 6:30am on Sunday.
"The suspects had installed more than 130 aquariums filled with expensive fish at one of the apartment units in a bid to portray themselves as Arowana traders," he added.
The police also seized 9,268 ringgit in cash, jewellery worth 6,704 ringgit, two cars worth 459,268 ringgit and processing tools.
"Two of the men had previous criminal records, while five of the seven who were arrested tested positive for drugs," he added.
He said the suspects had been remanded under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Firearms Act 1971.
US$1 = 3.08 ringgit