JOHOR BARU: More than RM3mil worth of drugs have been seized by the police in a special operation involving three raids here.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said that two local men, 34 and 38, were arrested during the raids between 3.15pm and 5pm on Tuesday (March 21).

"We believe that the syndicate has been active since January this year and have been avoiding being detected by using a house at a gated and guarded area and cars to hide the drugs.

"This is a common method used by drug syndicates to hide their activities," he said in a press conference at the Johor police headquarters here on Thursday (March 23).

He added that the drugs seized include 36.90kg of Erimin 5 pills worth RM2.76mil, 5,360g of Ecstasy powder worth RM268,200, 903g of Ketamine worth RM135,450, 865g of Ecstasy pills worth RM43,250 and 270g of magic mushroom worth RM13,500.

"The total value of drugs seized was RM3.22mil, which could feed the addiction of some 145,928 people. This is also the largest seizure of Erimin 5 pills in Johor for this year.

"We have also seized four cars worth RM183,000, gold jewellery worth RM24,510 and cash worth RM2,940," he said, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act.

Comm Kamarul said that the suspects are being remanded for seven days from Thursday (March 22) to assist in the investigation.

"We believe that the two suspects are in charge of distributing the drugs. One of the suspects tested positive for drugs while another has a criminal record," he said, adding that the police were still looking for the mastermind of the syndicate.