Drug trafficking suspects among 17 held in Semporna

SEMPORNA: Police have crippled the syndicates involved in drug smuggling in the district after seizing about 57.82 grams of syabu during Ops Sarang Bersepadu on July 19.

District police chief Superintendent Peter AK Umbuas said the operation was carried out from 12:01 am until 6 pm at several drug abuse hotspots.

In the first raid, police seized about 50.02 grams of syabu worth about RM6,000 at an unnumbered house in Kg Halo water village here at about 12:10 am and arrested two Filipinos who tried to escape by jumping into the sea.

Peter said both suspects aged 30 and 50 years old did not possess any valid personal documents. Both of them were trying to distribute drugs (syabu) to the villages nearby the sea in Semporna. They were remanded for seven days starting July 20 and may face the mandatory death penalty, if convicted.

In the second raid, police seized about 7.8 grams of syabu worth about RM500 from a 30-year-old Filipino at Kg Bangau-Bangau area here at about 6:30 pm on the same day. The non-documented suspect tried to escape when he saw the police but was arrested.

Police found a red plastic bag containing syabu from the suspect’s hand. It is believed that he tried to distribute the drugs to the BangauBangau village area.

Peter said the suspect has been remanded for four days starting July 20 and may be jailed two to five years plus whipping, if convicted. The two cases are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

During the operation, police also arrested 14 men and a woman believed to have committed drug abuse and 20 case files have been opened for investigation under the same act.