JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Police have busted three drug-trafficking syndicates distributing syabu, heroin, and ketamine for the local market.

Several members of the syndicates, including a Singaporean, were arrested and drugs worth about RM33,500 seized in police raids.

The first arrest was made after a team of policemen from the Johor Baru (South) police district headquarters raided a house in Taman Sentosa here about 4.30pm on March 13.

They arrested a 52-year-old Singaporean man and seized about 98g of heroin.

In the second raid on Monday, police personnel from the state narcotics unit raided a house in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau at 11.15am and seized 71g of heroin. A 31-year-old man was also arrested.

The same team then raided a drug-distributing centre in Taman Mount Austin at 12.30pm and arrested two men and a woman aged between 36 and 39.

Around 65g of heroin, 80g of syabu, 80g of ketamine and 16 Ecstasy pills were seized.

Police then extended their operations to Mersing, arrested seven men in their 30s, and seized 6g of syabu and 15.6g of heroin in the raid at Taman Seri Mersing.

However, the drug traffickers in Mersing were not part of any syndicate as the group was acting alone.

Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said all those arrested were being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 152 for trafficking.

"We believe all the drugs are for the local market.

"During the same period, we also arrested 60 people for drug possession and 172 drug addicts state wide," he said.

He urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-2212999 or the nearest police station.

Is this article useful to you?