Penang police chief Chuah Ghee Lye said the lab had been operating for about a month with the drugs meant for local distribution.

According to Chuah, police raided the unit after arresting a 50-year-old man outside the Taman Paya Terubong Flat on Saturday following a public tip-off.

“We then used a key found in his pocket to open up the flat and we found a lot of drug-making tools,” Chuah told reporters at the state police headquarters here today.

He added that police also found 13.92kg of heroin, 20kg of syabu, 35.3kg of ecstacy powder, 33 litres of “meth oil” and 20kg of caffeine powder .

Chuah said the lone suspect – who had criminal records for theft 30 years ago – also tested positive for drug use.

The suspect has been remanded for six days until May 12. The case is being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking, which carries a mandatory death sentence.

According to Chuah, it is the biggest narcotics haul by the police anywhere in the country this year.