KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Police uncovered a cocaine processing laboratory and arrested three individuals, including a man and his wife, in two raids in Cheras on Tuesday (July 16).
Police also seized 44.93kg of cocaine worth an estimated RM9 million in the raids conducted by the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) in collaboration with the United States' Drug Enforcement Administration.
Bukit Aman NCID director Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said that in the 10pm operation, the man and his wife, both aged 41, were arrested at a condominium unit along Jalan Cheras, Batu 5.
"Upon searching the unit, police found 44.93kg of cocaine and 52.5 litres of chemicals kept in bottles.
"Preliminary investigations found that the man acted as a runner while his wife managed the supply and processed the drugs,” he said during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters today.
Preliminary investigations also found the couple had rented the unit, which is believed to have been used as a store and cocaine processing laboratory, since February for RM2,350 a month.
Following their arrest, Khaw said police then detained a 38-year-old man, also acting as a runner for the syndicate, at an apartment in Taman Kasturi, Cheras, and seized 1kg of chemical powder from the unit.
He added that preliminary investigations found the syndicate, which has been active since early this year, had used the premises as a place to process and store cocaine before being distributed to overseas markets via air transport.
One of the suspects tested positive for ketamine and had eight prior records involving criminal and drug offences.
"The man and his wife have been remanded for seven days until Tuesday (July 23), while the other man has been remanded for four days until Saturday (July 20),” Khaw said.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
— Bernama
