ISKANDAR PUTERI, March 18 -- An international drug syndicate operating in gated residential areas and industrial factories was busted after police raided three illegal laboratories and a drug factory during a special operation here and in the Seri Alam district recently.

Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the raids, which was carried out between March 6 and 11, led to the arrest of five local men and two Taiwanese men, aged between 25 and 40.

As a result of the raids, he said police also seized 42.5 kilogrammes (kg) of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) powder and 182.8 kg of syabu, both with a total value of RM12.95 million.

"Investigations found that the syndicate had been actively operating since July last year by using a rent...