THE 'zombie' drug fentanyl, believed to be 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, is now being sold openly in the electronic cigarette (vape) market to regular customers.
The activity was uncovered after the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) launched Op Vape 1.0 nationwide from April 13 to last Friday, involving a seizure of RM4.6 million.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) Director, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the operation involved 1,177 JSJN officers and members and 2,011 agency officers from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM), the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), local authorities (PBT) and other agencies.
According to him, as a result of the raids carried out, police detected that the drug furanyl fentanyl had started being sold at vape premises when they arrested five people in separate raids.
"In a raid on April 13, we arrested a man, a woman and a foreign man aged 23 to 31 around Taman Bukit Cheras.
"Nine white bottles containing a drug liquid suspected of being furanyl fentanyl weighing 16.8 kilograms (kg) were seized," he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK), today.
He said that following that, last Friday, police arrested another man and woman aged 22 and 25 around Taman Mastiara, Sentul.
"The results of the inspection inside the vape premises found 155 vape cartridges containing a drug believed to be furanyl fentanyl weighing 1.7 kg and 22 plastic packets containing MDMA drug powder weighing 0.66 kg.
"The total amount of furanyl fentanyl liquid seized was 18.56 kg with a total value of RM2.8 million," he said.
He said that the five individuals acted as owners, storekeepers and 'runners'.
"The suspects have been remanded until April 24 in accordance with Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Through this operation, 1,670 vape premises were inspected with 728 found to be in breach of regulations," he said.
According to Hussein, the total arrests involved 20 people with the seizure of 8,091 devices, 5,257 cartridges and 19.67 kg of drugs.
"Also seized was 186.54 kg of vape liquid that did not contain drugs with a total value of RM4.6 million.
"A total of 487 investigation papers were opened by the Ministry of Health with 142 premises given compliance notices, five premises seized and 1,149 compounded," he added. – April 21, 2026
