Another drug ring busted, RM500,000 syabu seized
KOTA KINABALU: Police have again crippled another drug syndicate for attempting to smuggle 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine or syabu worth RM500,000 into the state through the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) here on Sunday.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said four men, aged 27 and 39, were also arrested by police from the Sabah police contingent (IPK Sabah) narcotics division in two separate raids within a couple of hours on August 13.
“Two of the suspects were first detained after arriving from Johor at KKIA at 10.15am.
“Each of the men was carrying a sling bag on their shoulder and when police stopped them for inspection, we found seven large compact packets that are believed to contain syabu, on them.
“The seven packets of drugs weighing 7.2kg are estimated to worth RM500,000,” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters in Kepayan yesterday.
Also present were state deputy police commissioner Datuk Razarudin Husain and Sabah Narcotics Department head Superintendent Mohamed Fadzil Rahman.
Following the arrest, police immediately set up a task force and within three hours arrested two other two men around the state capital.
From investigation the police also believed the drugs, which were smuggled from West Malaysia, might be meant for local distribution.
Ramli said this was the second biggest seizure of drugs this year after police crippled an attempt by a drug syndicate to traffic 10.3kg of methamphetamine or syabu worth RM1 million inside 10 Chinese Tea packets at a hotel in the state capital on January 4 this year.
“Police are looking for a fifth man, identified as Saudi, in his 30s, who we believe can assist in our investigation,” said Ramli, adding that the case would be investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Ramli said drug activities had contributed to the rise of crime activities in the country and Sabah and police would act aggressively to combat the issue.
He said this was due to the increase in the number of drug cases in Sabah for the first eight months of this year as compared to last year.
“From January till August 14 this year, there have been 92 drug cases under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, for trafficking in dangerous drug, as compared to 52 cases in the same period of last year. This year we have also arrested 166 people for drug trafficking as compared to 86 people detained for drug trafficking last year,” said Ramli.