To chew up the competition posed by local drug traffickers, a Pahang-based syndicate came up with a novel idea of distributing drugs concealed in chewing gum wrappers.

The syndicate also peddled the drugs as an orange-flavoured powdered drink to hoodwink the authorities.

On Tuesday, the police uncovered the syndicate with the arrest of five men, including a Singaporean, in separate raids here.

Pahang CID (Narcotics) chief, Superintendent Lam Thiam Huat said in the first raid at a house in Taman Maju Jaya, a local and a Singaporean were picked up and an assortment of drugs seized.

The drugs comprised ketamine (81.7gms); syabu (8.9gms); 290 Eramin-5 tablets, 185 esctasy pills, and 16 plastic packets bearing the words, 'Orange Coming', suspected to be drugs weighing 412.8gms.

"We also found 24 plastic packets of suspected drugs weighing 264gms with the words, 'Magic Chew' written on the packets," Lam told reporters at the Kuantan police headquarters here Thursday.

Following the arrest, he said three more suspects aged between 15 and 27 were nabbed in front of Medan Selera, Jalan Gambut I at 7.30pm on the same day.

On checking the vehicle the trio were in, the police seized 490 Eramin-5 pills, 120 esctasy pills, 40 esctasy capsules and 13.8gms of ketamine.

The suspects have been remanded until March 27. -- Bernama