Actor, friend detained over links with drug syndicate

An actor and his friend detained by the police in Pagoh yesterday, are suspected to be linked to a syndicate which had transferred operations of its Kuala Lumpur-based drug processing centre to this district.

District police chief, ACP Azman Ayob said this was based on the seizure of several drug (syabu)-processing equipment and chemicals in their car at a road-block in Pagoh.

"We believe they (the syndicate) moved from a location in Kuala Lumpur to this area only recently, and the equipment in their possesion is capable of processing up to five kilogrammes of drugs at a given time," he told a press conference here Saturday.

Yesterday, the 36-year-old actor and his friend were picked up at the road block after a police team found drugs suspected to be syabu and weighing 1.38kg in their vehicle.

Also seized were several plastic bottles believed to contain chemicals and equipment for processing drugs, namely a glass funnel, seven glass jars, rubber pipe, dryer and an electric stove which were found in the car boot.

Azman said the seized drug was estimated to be worth about RM660,000, adding that this was another major police success in combating drug-related activities in Muar since January.

In a separate development, Azman said the police detained 51 foreign women during 13 raids at entertainment centres since Jan 1, for prostitution and working without a valid permit.

The women, aged between 19 and 40, comprised 25 Vietnamese, six China nationals and 20 Thais.