This was the biggest such seizure by Penang police this year.

Penang police chief Sahabudin Abd Manan said in the operation, four places were raided from 4.30am to 9.30am before the six, aged 28 to 59, were arrested.

“The first two men, including the 35-year-old syndicate leader, were arrested while in a car in Sungai Nibong. They were believed to be distributing drugs. They had 2kg of syabu with them.

“Police then arrested another man and seized drugs at a house in Sungai Nibong. Following a raid on another house in Bayan Lepas, the fourth suspect was detained.

“After interrogation, police were led to the drug storage site at a house in Balik Pulau where the syndicate leader’s wife and mother lived,” he told a press conference here today.

Police seized 133.3kg of syabu, 20.7kg of ketamine and 11.1kg of heroin base, all worth RM8.14 million, in the raids.

Sahabudin said the syndicate leader’s wife, a Thai national, aged 28, was believed to have links with drug trafficking syndicates in the neighbouring country.

The drugs were believed to be brought in overland via Sintok, Kedah, before being delivered to Penang.

“The couple have three small children. They have been handed over to the Social Welfare Department as their 59-year-old grandmother, also a syndicate member, was arrested,” he said.

All six have been remanded for seven days for investigations.