GEORGE TOWN: Police have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of 12 suspects, including its mastermind, in Penang and Selangor.

       Among items seized in Penang were RM671,096 worth of drugs, a box of live ammunition containing 50 rounds of 9mm Luger bullets, a Rolex watch worth RM45,000, cash in various currencies and barrels of chemicals.

       The first raid at about 10pm on Sunday (Aug 8) at a house in Bukit Tengah on the mainland saw a 56-year-old man arrested after 18.58kg of syabu worth RM668,772 and 12g of Erimin 5 pills worth RM690 were found.

       Barrels containing 56 litres of chemicals and a weighing scale were also found in the house, believed to be used as a drug packaging centre.

       Later, a 31-year-old woman was arrested in a condominium in Gelugor after 45.4g of syabu worth RM1,634 was found at 10.50pm.

       Penang deputy police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh said both suspects, who are foreigners, were among 10 others comprising seven men and three women aged from 27 to 65 arrested in Selangor.

       "Among them was a leader, seven syndicate members and two suppliers from the Klang Valley.

       "We believe both suspects in Penang have been operating since August last year and obtained their supply from the Klang Valley," said Fisol during a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters on Thursday (Aug 12).

       He said checks found that the male suspect's passport expired in 2017 while the woman's passport was still valid.

       Among other items seized in both houses were cash in various currencies as well as jewellery worth RM48,730.

       Both suspects have since been remanded under various sections of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 as well as Section 8(a) of the Weapons Act 1960 and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.