Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the simultaneous operations by the Bukit Aman narcotics criminal investigation department also saw the seizure of a huge amount of heroin base and heroin, with an estimated total value of RM4.13 million.

He said police arrested the first suspect after intercepting a car parked by the roadside at USJ 19/4 in Subang Jaya, Selangor.

They found 14.52kg of heroin base and 920g of heroin hidden in a bag inside a specially concealed compartment behind the rear passenger seat.

“The next raid was at a house in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, where the second suspect was arrested and 22.55kg of heroin base seized from the premises.

“The third suspect was detained at an eatery in Permatang Pauh, Penang, which then led to the inspection of a nearby house where police discovered 7.456kg of heroin base,” Bernama quoted him as saying today.

Hussein said the suspect arrested in Penang is believed to be the mastermind of the syndicate, which had been active since early last year.

He said the mastermind sourced drugs from a neighbouring country and handed them to the other two suspects, who transported the drugs from Penang to the Klang Valley, earning up to RM4,000 a trip.

“Heroin base is the ‘mother’ of drugs, being the raw form that is later processed into various grades of heroin and sold at higher prices,” he said.

The first and second suspects have been remanded for five days starting July 13, while the third suspect is under a six-day remand.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking.