Drug trafficking suspect remanded for three days

MIRI: A Magistrates’ Court here yesterday ordered a man arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking to be remanded for three days to facilitate police investigation.

Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa issued the order after allowing a remand application by investigating officer Insp Ameerul Ashraf Muhamed.

In his application, Ameerul said that acting on information received, a team of police from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department ( NCID) Sarawak headquarters led by Insp Thomas Utol raided a house at Jalan Piasau Jaya 3B at 11pm on Tuesday (Feb 19).

D uring the raid, police detained the man on suspicion of his involvement in illegal drug activities.

Upon inspecting the house, police found a sling bag containing two transparent plastic packets filled with dried leaves, believed to be marijuana, with a gross weight of 20.15 grams.

The team seized the items to be used as case exhibits and the suspect was brought to NCID Miri for further action.

A subsequent urine test carried out on the suspect was positive for the dangerous drugs tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and methamphetamine.

The suspect was then arrested under Section 39A (1) and Section 15 (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

In his application, Ameerul said the investigation could not be completed in 24 hours and therefore a four- day remand was needed under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code on the 30-year- old suspect from Marudi.

Apart from that, he said the police also needed time to find out the degree of the suspect’s involvement in drug trafficking.

However, the court only allowed a three- day remand order, which will end tomorrow (Feb 23).