Why Malaysia’s latest $480m drug seizure is one of the biggest on record

The operation, carried out in the Klang Valley in mid-December, led to the arrest of six people, three Malaysian men and three foreign women, and the dismantling of a major international drug syndicate, Straits Times reports.

Authorities say the syndicate was operating large-scale drug-processing laboratories hidden inside residential homes and industrial buildings. Among the properties raided was a three-storey bungalow that had been converted into a drug lab.

Police seized massive quantities of cocaine, ketamine and MDMA in both liquid and powder form, along with chemical equipment used to process and package the drugs. Investigators estimate the drugs could have supplied more than 60 million users.

According to the police, the syndicate had been active since April and was supplying drugs to overseas markets. One suspect is believed to have acted as a chemist, while others managed storage and processing sites. The foreign women arrested were described as partners of the male suspects.

In addition to the drugs, police seized several vehicles and other assets as part of the investigation. The suspects remain in custody as authorities continue to track possible links to international trafficking networks.

In 2019, Malaysian authorities seized nearly 3,700kg of ketamine and cocaine worth about $161m in the country’s biggest drug haul to date. Malaysia has, over the years, become a key transit point for illegal narcotics, with authorities seizing record amounts of crystal methamphetamine in the past year.