Cops nab married couple operating drug-processing lab in Sri Petaling
BY NATASHA JOIBITHE STAR
ACP Wan (centre) holding up the seized drugs.
KUALA LUMPUR: A married couple was arrested in connection with operating a drug-processing lab at a luxury condominium unit in Sri Petaling here.
Police also seized RM1.8mil worth of processed drugs found in their possession in the condominium.
City Narcotics Criminal Investigation (NCID) chief Asst Comm Wan Abdullah Ishak said that the 35-year old man and his 33-year-old Thai wife, believed to have been in the drugs business for the past six months, were arrested separately on Dec 19.
"The man was arrested in his Mercedes Benz at 4.30pm at Bandar Baru Sri Petaling. The address printed on electricity bills found in his car led us to the drug lab.
"His wife was waiting for him in the condo unit when we arrested her at about 6.20pm.
"Their two-year-old son has been temporarily placed in the care of their relatives while we investigate the couple," he told reporters on Monday.
Among the drugs seized were 15.665 kg of processed syabu, 0.945kg of unprocessed syabu and 4kg of acetone. Also confiscated were drug-processing apparatuses.
ACP Wan Abdullah said police are investigating whether the couple were middlemen in a drug syndicate and are tracking down any accomplice they might have.
"We believe the couple had at least two accomplices. They were selling the drugs in Pahang and southern states like Johor.
"Whilst the man tested positive for drug use, his wife was not using drugs. Both have no criminal records," he explained.
According to ACP Wan, police confronted the man three months ago over drug-related offences but the latter was uncooperative.
"We raided a different condo but were not able to find evidence of drug processing activities.
"The address on the electricity bills was what led us to the drug lab three months later," he said.
Both husband and wife were working in an unnamed spa.
The couple will be remanded until Nov 26 to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
