The seizure was made in two separate raids in residential areas around Johor Bahru on June 14 and 15.

Johor police chief M Kumar said the special operation was carried out by the narcotics crime investigation department of the Johor police headquarters and Bukit Aman’s narcotics crime investigation division.

The first raid on a two-storey terraced house at Taman Mutiara Rini saw police arrest a 45-year-old local resident, believed to be the mastermind, and a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman.

“Police seized 2.67kg of powder believed to be ecstasy and 368gm of drugs suspected to be marijuana,” Bernama quoted him as saying at a press conference today.

The second raid was carried out on another terraced house about 1km away, which had been rented by the same male suspect since May 2024, during which a 23-year-old Vietnamese woman was arrested.

Police seized 38kg of ecstasy powder and 1.37kg of ketamine in the raid.

Also seized were two cars worth RM190,000, RM49,150 in cash, and jewellery worth RM17,630.

Kumar said the two foreign women were believed to have entered the country legally.

He said the syndicate operated through social media and delivered its goods through runners. An investigation is underway to track down its other members.

He said the first house is believed to have been used for storing the drugs, and the second to package the drug powder into small packets to be sold in the local market for RM250 to RM350.

The male suspect tested positive for methamphetamine use, while the two women tested positive for ketamine and benzodiazepines.

They have been remanded until June 26 for further investigation.