Thai man nabbed with 14,000 meth pills in Langkawi

SETAR: The Customs Department has arrested a Thai man and seized 14,000 methamphetamine pills at the Langkawi Ferry Terminal.

Kedah Customs director Nor Izah Abd Latiff said a team of Customs officers from the Langkawi Narcotics enforcement branch arrested the 42-year-old man at about 2.30pm last Wednesday after the suspect was seen behaving in a suspicious manner.

“Following an inspection, the team found a blue package containing 11,600 methamphetamine pills weighing 1,102g.

“Further inspection of the man’s black waist bag found 2,400 pills, weighing 228g. The total number of pills was 14,000 with a total weight of 1,330g. It is estimated to be worth RM210,000,” she said in a statement here yesterday, Bernama reported.

Nor Izah said the suspect’s modus operandi was to go through the Customs inspection area without luggage, only carrying packages of goods for personal use. She said a urine test conducted on the man found that he tested positive for methamphetamine.

The man has been remanded for seven days until tomorrow and is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, she added.

Nor Izah urged anyone with information related to smuggling activities to contact the Customs toll-free line at 1800 88 8855 or the nearest Customs office.

Meanwhile, Sabah police have busted a mini ketum water processing factory in Kota Marudu.

A house in northern Kota Marudu district, some 130km from Kota Kinabalu, was found to be operating as a mini processing factory to produce and sell ketum water.

Kota Marudu police chief Supt Zairolnizal Ishak said his men from the district Criminal Investigation Department stormed the house following a public tip-off.

He said they found 19 plastic bags containing greenish powder believed to be ground ketum and 18 mineral water plastic bottles containing brownish liquid believed to be ketum water.

Police also seized paraphernalia worth some RM400 that was used to process and produce the substance.

“We detained a 36-year-old man who is the house owner to facilitate further investigations,” he said.

Supt Zairolnizal said they are still probing where the suspect obtained the ketum powder from, how it was brought into the district and its value.

The suspect has been remanded for four days under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for investigations under Section 30(3) of the Poison Act 1952, he added.

The offence carries a jail term up to five years, or a fine not more than RM100,000, or both, if found guilty.