Cops smash trafficking syndicates with RM2.6 mln drug haul in KK, Tawau

KOTA KINABALU (March 18): Sabah police have dismantled two separate drug trafficking syndicates with seizures close to RM2.6 million at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and in Tawau.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the drugs totalling over 53kg were seized in a joint operation with the Sabah Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) and Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA).

“The first raid saw a 36-year-old man arrested at the KKIA international arrival hall on March 11.

“The suspect was nabbed with three boxes containing 30.30kg of methamphetamine valued at RM1.5 million,” he told a press conference at the Sabah Police Headquarters in Kepayan.

Jauteh said the suspect, who was from Klang, Selangor, tested negative for drugs and has no previous convictions.

It is believed this was his first time transporting drugs from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah.

In the second raid, Tawau police nabbed a 42-year-old man at a car storage premises on March 13.

“Police found 3,071.04 grammes of methamphetamine valued at RM153,000.

“Following the arrest, police raided a double-storey house at Kampung Jawa, Tawau on the same day and detained two men and a woman aged between 36 and 73,” said Jauteh.

Urine tests on all four suspects were negative for drugs and none of the suspects had previous criminal records.

All the five suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking.

The Section carries the death penalty, or life imprisonment with a minimum 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

Jauteh said police believe both the KKIA and Tawau cases involve different syndicates.

He said investigations are still being carried out and thanked MCBA and other agencies for assisting with the arrests and seizures.