Police smash major MDMA "juice" syndicate, seize RM5 million in drugs

SHAH ALAM – Thirteen individuals have been arrested following six coordinated raids by Federal Police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), which uncovered two clandestine laboratories producing the Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-laced synthetic drug “juice.” 

Authorities seized drugs valued at RM5.03 million in the large-scale operation conducted on June 26 between 2pm and 5pm. 

Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed the arrests, which included twelve local men and one Vietnamese woman aged between 20 and 41. 

He said the syndicate was dismantled following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering. 

“These labs were sophisticated setups hidden in residential areas and operated by individuals with defined roles. 

"Some acted as chemists, others as runners, all working together in a network that’s been active since December 2022. 

"We found 1,488 juice boxes suspected to contain MDMA, amounting to 372.62 kg,” he said during a press conference at the Selangor Police Headquarters on Tuesday. 

Hussein further stated that the first raid took place at a terraced house in Ampang, Selangor, where three local men were arrested. 

He said that police uncovered a fully operational drug lab processing MDMA into juice, along with ecstasy pills, Erimin 5 tablets and other related substances. 

A second raid in Pandan Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, resulted in the arrest of six suspects namely, five local men and the Vietnamese woman at another illicit juice lab. 

Officers also recovered hundreds of bottles containing MDMA-laced liquid, ketamine, ecstasy pills, cannabis, Erimin 5 tablets and more MDMA processing equipment from both the residence and a vehicle. 

Subsequent raids in parking lots across Kuchai Lama, Taman Permata, Kuchai Jaya and Taman Connaught resulted in the arrest of four more local men, with significant quantities of MDMA-laced liquid recovered from their vehicles. 

“In total, we seized 689.24 kg of MDMA in liquid form, 1.68 kg of MDMA powder, 25.4 kg of ketamine, 5.3 kg of ecstasy pills and nearly 0.73 kg of Erimin 5,” he added. 

Hussein revealed that several suspects functioned as “chemists” in the operation while others acted as runners, receiving payments ranging from RM3,000 to RM25,000 monthly. 

The syndicate, believed to have been active since December 2022, used rented terraced homes as production sites and transported products in private vehicles for distribution in local markets. 

He stated that all thirteen suspects have been remanded under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, facing potential sentences of death or life imprisonment and at least twelve strokes of the cane. 

Eleven suspects were remanded for seven days from June 27 to July 3, while one, identified as the alleged coordinator, remained in custody for three additional days from June 29 to July 2. 

According to Hussein, preliminary urine tests indicated nine of the thirteen tested positive for ketamine, methamphetamine, or benzodiazepines; the remaining four tested negative.