Police in Malaysia have thwarted a drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of five people including three women, two of whom are Vietnamese.

According to state media, the syndicate in question was distributing ecstasy by grinding it to a fine powder with a pestle and mortar and storing it in 3-in-1 coffee sachets for consumption at entertainment outlets around the capital of Kuala Lumpur.

At a press conference, Kuala Lumpur Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department chief ACP Guan Beng Kang said that police had initially detained a 27-year-old suspect in a special drug bust at 2am (local time) before arresting another suspect and three women at an apartment.

He added that police in also seized 187 ecstasy pills, 41 capsules containing ecstasy powder, 1.2 kilogrammes of ecstasy powder and Erimin 5 pills amounting to RM97,110.

Also seized was a handgun, two samurai swords, a pestle and mortar and a weighing scale.

Guan said, all the suspects are being remanded for sevent days (until March 17) to facilitate investigations under Section 117 of the Penal Code and Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

– with other agencies