Cops nab two in raid on apartment-turned-drug lab, seize 11.9kg of meth
KUCHING: A raid on an apartment in Batu Kawa allegedly used to process drugs saw the arrest two men and seizure of drugs worth RM394,000, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata.
He said the drugs, comprising 11.9kg of methamphetamine and 66g of ketamine, were seized in the raid along with various equipment and chemicals used to process the drugs.
“Also seized were properties belonging to the suspects worth RM62,345.60. One suspect, aged 29, tested positive for traces of methamphetamine, amphetamine and ketamine, and had prior criminal records under Section 39B and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“The other suspect, 26, tested negative,” he told a press conference at the Sarawak Police Contingent headquarters at Jalan Badruddin here yesterday.
On the modus operandi, Mancha explained the drugs were obtained from Peninsular Malaysia for the purpose of trafficking in Kuching and nearby districts.
Both suspects are currently remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code until March 30 to be investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He also said police seized various drugs worth RM9.2 million and arrested 2,887 suspects, including 169 for trafficking, from January to March 24 this year.
Separately, Mancha said a total of 451 scam cases were recorded between January to March 23 this year. He said the number of cases showed a decrease of 18.3 per cent compared to the 552 cases recorded in the same period last year.
“However, total losses recorded during this period was RM20.1 million – an increase of 34 per cent compared to RM15 million recorded in 2023,” he said.
Mancha said of the total number of scam cases, the most reported were e-commerce scams at 141 cases involving losses of RM1.32 million, followed by investment scams (52 cases with RM11 million in losses), and nonexistent loans (49 cases with RM378,000 in losses).
“During this period, a total of 193 individuals were also arrested,” he said, while advising the public to remain vigilant and to report to the relevant agencies if they become victims of fraud.
He said victims can contact the National Scam Response Centre on 997 to block suspicious transactions that occur within 24 hours. Additionally, download the Whoscall app via the Google Play Store or Apple Store and check suspected bank accounts with the ‘Check Scammers CCID’ app on the website semakmule.rmp.gov.my.
“The public can also visit the official social media accounts of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department to obtain information on the scammers’ modus operandi,” he said.