The five were responsible for mixing powders and liquid drugs, believed to be ketamine, into the drinks, which were sold at RM300 a bottle by other members of a syndicate, Kuala Lumpur police chief Azmi Abu Kassim said.

He said the five, who were called “doctors” were part of three syndicates which had been active for six months. “Most users know their own respective ‘doctor’ who will mix the drugs according to their needs. These ‘doctors’ supposedly have their own recipes,” Azmi said.

He said the suspects, comprising 10 local men, a local woman and a foreign woman, were arrested in three raids between Feb 7 and Feb 9.

In the first raid, six men aged between 22 and 39 were arrested. Police seized 21kg of ketamine, with a street value of RM1.2 million, and 2kg of syabu valued at RM72,000.

The five “doctors” who mixed the drinks were arrested in a second raid. Police seized an estimated RM340,000 in drugs and cigarettes containing synthetic mushrooms, Azmi told reporters.

In a third raid, police seized RM55,000 in ketamine weighing 1kg and arrested a 37-year-old local man.