The loss of the 5kg of drugs, a type of amphetamine, has now placed the case against 12 suspected members of an international drug syndicate in jeopardy, reported the New Straits Times (NST).

The drugs were discovered missing last Thursday, and investigations have begun following a report lodged by a police officer from the headquarters.

The thieves, believed to be policemen, used acid to melt the padlock to the evidence room where the drugs were kept.

It is understood that more than 60 policemen, who were on duty at the headquarters at the time, were made to take urine tests following the report.

NST cited unnamed sources as saying that a police officer had been detained on Saturday after failing a urine test.

Yesterday, Johor police chief Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said a task force has been formed to investigate the theft, reported The Star. 'I would like to assure the public that there will be no cover-ups and the culprits responsible will be brought to justice,' he said.

He declined to elaborate further on the matter, but said the value of the drugs was not RM1 million. Asked if the thieves had used acid to break the padlock as reported by several newspapers, deputy commander Mohd Mokhtar said the police were investigating the matter.

'We will be calling several journalists to give their statements as we are keen to know how they obtained the information regarding the acid,' he said.

In March, the police announced they had busted a global drug ring in Johor, arresting 13 people, including four Singaporeans and a Thai national.

Police seized 260kg of drugs worth RM44 million in what is believed to be the biggest drug haul in the country this year.

This is not the first time that drugs in Malaysian police custody have gone missing. In May 2006, more than 1,000 psychotropic pills, 7g of heroin and 400ml of cough mixture went missing from the Kota Baru district police headquarters. The drugs, valued at over RM40,000, had been seized in 12 operations in the district, reported NST.

And in April 2005, proceedings at a Shah Alam High Court came to a standstill when more than 60,000 psychotropic pills, meant as evidence in a trial, went missing. The drugs, worth almost RM1 million, went missing from a Selangor Narcotics Department vault.