Police Seize Drugs Worth RM2.6 Million, Five Suspected "Middlemen" Arrested In Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, March 18 (Bernama) -- The Sabah police seized 53.85 kilogrammes of drugs worth nearly RM2.6 million, in operations at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and in Tawau, leading to the arrest of five suspected “middlemen”.

Sabah Police Commissioner Jauteh Dikun said in the first case on March 11, officers from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN), in collaboration with the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), arrested a 36-year-old local man at KKIA at about 11.15 pm.

“An inspection of three boxes at the international arrivals baggage section uncovered crystal-like substances believed to be methamphetamine, weighing 30.30kg and estimated to be worth RM1.5 million,” he said at a press conference at the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters in Kepayan today.

The suspect, a freelance architectural worker, has been remanded until March 20 to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.  

In a separate case in Tawau on March 13, a 42-year-old local man was detained at a vehicle storage facility on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Police seized three plastic packages containing 3.07kg of methamphetamine worth about RM153,000.

Following the arrest, a raid on a double-storey house in Kampung Jawa led to the detention of two men and a woman aged between 36 and 73.

A search of the premises uncovered 20 packets of suspected methamphetamine weighing 20.48kg, with an estimated value of RM1.024 million.

“All suspects have been remanded until March 22 for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” Jauteh said, adding that police also seized assets including a motorcycle, a three-tonne lorry and a Toyota Alphard multi-purpose vehicle.

He said the total amount of drugs seized in both cases could supply more than one million users for a single use.

Initial urine tests and background checks found that all suspects tested negative for drugs and had no prior criminal records.

Police believe the two cases involve separate trafficking syndicates, as differences were found in the methods used to package the drugs.

Jauteh stressed that the success of the operations was due to ongoing intelligence efforts and public cooperation, adding that authorities will not compromise with any parties involved in drug trafficking.

Members of the public with information on drug-related activities are urged to contact the JSJN hotline at 012-208 7222.

-- BERNAMA