A drug peddler based in Bukit Mertajam on mainland Penang has been using an ingenious way of distributing his supply by packaging the illegal substance in 3-in-1 beverage sachets before selling them at entertainment centres around the state.

The ruse was exposed finally when police raided the 19-year-old's home in Taman Impian Jaya, Bukit Mertajam, at 3am on Monday.

Seberang Perai Tengah District police chief ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said police raided the premises after two weeks of  surveillance in the area.

“During the raid, we found no drugs on the suspect but after further checks in his room, we found 49 packets of 3-in-1 beverages, such as Cadbury and Boh Ice Tea,” Nik Ros Azhan said.

The sachets contained a total of 1,614.27 grammes of MDMA, while police also seized 70 ecstasy pills, ketamine (54.80 grammes) and 10 eramin 5 pills, all worth RM17,850.

The suspect, who is unemployed, obtained his supply in large quantities before breaking them down to smaller ones and packaging them in the 3-in-1 sachets, which he sold for between RM100 and RM300 each, he said.

The suspect is under remand for seven days, Nik Ros Azhan added.

- Bernama