The raids were conducted by the Bukit Aman narcotics crime investigation department (NCID).

According to NCID director Kamarudin Zin, the suspects, aged 32 to 61, were believed to have acted as coordinators, suppliers and shopkeepers and had used the premises to store the drugs before distributing them to local buyers.

He said 56kg of methamphetamine, 20kg of ketamine and 154.3kg of ecstasy, estimated to be worth a total of RM14.4 million, were seized. The drugs could be used by 861,335 addicts.

“The drugs were hidden in laundry detergent packages and sent to Sabah and Sarawak by courier,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters today.

Kamarudin said police also seized four luxury vehicles as well as jewellery and cash with an estimated value of almost RM400,000.

All the three suspects have been remanded until July 20 to assist with investigations. The case is being probed under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The trio tested negative for drugs, but one had a record related to criminal and drug cases, he said.