Customs seizes RM5m drugs
KOTA KINABALU: The State Customs Department has made one of their biggest drug busts when they seized more than 100 kilograms of syabu (methamphetamine) and ecstasy pills worth over RM5 million.
State Customs Department assistant director general (enforcement) Datuk Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir said the drugs were seized in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan between February 21 and March 1.
In the first raid at 2.15pm on Feb 21, Customs officers seized 100kg of methamphetamine or syabu that were kept inside protein product jars.
“A foreign man, in his 40s, was seen carrying boxes containing protein product jars outside a shop in Penampang.
“Upon inspection, we found packets of crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine or syabu weighing about 100kg and valued at RM5 million,” said Abdul Latif at a press conference at the State Customs Headquarters here yesterday.
On Feb 27, a local man in his 40s, was nabbed by Customs officers at the Sandakan post office with 4,900 ecstasy pills worth RM122,500.
“Post office personnel had earlier detected suspicious items in the parcel when it was going through the scanning machine.
“The post office personnel immediately alerted Customs personnel which led to the arrest of the suspect when he came to pick up the parcel at around 4.15pm,” said Abdul Latif.
The latest arrest was made on March 1 when a local woman was detained at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport arrival hall at 8.28pm.
The woman, in her 20s, had just touched down from Kuala Lumpur and was carrying about 5kg of methamphetamine in her luggage.
The drugs were wrapped neatly in five plastic packets with street price of RM250,000.
Abdul Latif said all the suspects had been remanded and the cases were being investigated under Section 39B, Section 39B(1)(a) and Section 39B(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
If found guilty, the suspects could face life sentences (or death) and not less then 15 strokes of the cane.