GOF team seizes Syabu weighing 36kg, arrests one during Op Benteng
SERIAN: Police arrested a man and confiscated from him substance believed to be methamphetamine (Syabu) weighing 36kg during an operation in Tebedu, near here early last Saturday.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail said the drugs, which had a street price of RM1.296 million, were seized during an Op Benteng operation conducted by a team from Ba alion 11 of the General Operations Force (GOF) at Bandar Mutiara, Tebedu at 5am that day.
He said during the operation, the GOF team spo ed a multipurpose vehicle (MPV), which was initially heading towards the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) in Tebedu from Serian, making a sudden change in direction.
“The GOF team then pursued the MPV and stopped it near Kampung Sejijak at KM8 of Jalan Tebedu-Serian and arrested the suspect who was the driver.
“Further inspection uncovered two backpacks on the middle seat, and another two underneath the back seat.
“Each bag had nine packages containing substance believed to be Syabu concealed in ‘Guanyinwang Tea’ packs. Overall, a total of 36 packages weighing a total of 36kg were seized,” he told a press conference at the Serian police headquarters (IPD) here yesterday.
Additionally, Aidi said police also confiscated the MPV, a watch worth RM1,700 and cash amounting to RM572.
“We believe the drugs came from Peninsular Malaysia as the packaging used was the same as those seized over there.
“We believe that the drugs had been brought to Miri and was to be delivered by the suspect to Indonesia to be sold there,” he said, adding that the suspect was a jobless man, aged 48, from Miri.
“He has prior criminal records under Section 12(2) of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 15(1) under the same Act.
“The suspect also told us that he had made four transactions (deliveries) prior to his arrest in Tebedu, of which 18kg of drugs had been delivered in each transaction, and he had earned RM2,000 per kilogramme.
“He also tested positive for methamphetamine a er the arrest (on Saturday),” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment, and shall, if not sentenced to death, be punished with not less than 15 strokes of the cane.
Meanwhile, Aidi assured the public that further investigations would continue to be run to prevent and cripple drug distribution activities in Sarawak.
He said all information would be given to the International Intelligence Department under the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department.