SEREMBAN: The theft of 3kg of ketamine from the district police headquarters here almost two months ago gave new meaning to the term "inside job".

Investigations revealed that the drug was stolen by a detainee being held in a cell at the station who then distributed it among the cellmates who consumed the evidence.

This was the startling results of investigations carried out by Negri Sembilan police into the theft of the drugs reported at the Seremban district police headquarters in early June.

It is learnt that police got leads into the case after studying the tapes from the closed-circuit television cameras in the station.

Footage showed the detainee using a piece of metal which he allegedly pulled out from the toilet retainer in his cell, which he modified to unlock the cell door at night.

The detainee then used the same piece of metal to unlock the storeroom where the drugs were kept.

The drugs, in powder form, were then distributed among other detainees.

It was leant that the 30-year-old detainee was brought to the lock-up from the Sungai Buloh Prison in June to be tried at the Seremban Sessions Court for various offences, including robbery and break-ins.

The detainee admitted to police later that he was a master locksmith who was well versed in picking locks.

He is expected to be charged soon for his latest brush with the law.

State police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner 1 Datuk Osman Salleh declined to comment but it is learnt that the suspect later held a demonstration for red-faced police officers at the station to show how he stole the drugs.

The drugs were part of a 30kg haul, worth RM1.2 million, seized in a raid in May in which five men, believed to be members of an international drug smuggling syndicate, were arrested.

The drugs were believed to have been brought into the country via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport cargo complex in Sepang.

Police also seized two cars worth RM100,000, 11 mobile phones and more than RM125,000 from several bank accounts.

This is the second such incident which has been highlighted in the past week. Last week, it was reported that syabu worth more them RM1 million was stolen from the Johor state police headquarters.

In that incident, however, policemen were believed to be involved.