Bukit Aman narcotics CID deputy director (intelligence and operations) Zainudin Ahmad said the businessman and others were arrested by the police in raids conducted in Johor and Selangor on April 7 and 8.

He said police also seized 12.24kg syabu, 6.61kg ecstasy pills and 420g ketamine, as well as three luxury vehicles and jewellery, all worth RM1.39 million.

The syndicate, believed to be active since September last year, was suspected to have smuggled the contraband through the waters off Johor, including from Batu Pahat, to Indonesia.

He said of the nine suspects arrested, one tested positive for drugs and five had previous records for criminal and drug-related offences. The businessman, aged 59, was previously jailed five years for a drug offence.

All the suspects, aged between 22 and 59, have been remanded for seven days for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Meanwhile, Zainudin said the syndicate was believed to have links with a drug gang busted by the Taiwanese authorities last month.

“Three Malaysians and four Indonesians were arrested in Taiwanese waters with 281kg of ketamine with an estimated value of RM15 million.”

He said police were tracking down the remaining members of the syndicate.