Caught with drugs worth over RM170,000

Customs officials nabbed a local man and seized more than RM170,000 worth of methamphetamine (syabu) and ecstasy pills at the old Customs, Immigration and Quarantine jetty in Tawau.

Sabah Customs assistant director-general Datuk Mohd Nasir Deraman said in the raid on April 30, Customs officials stopped a man who was carrying a huge box and acting suspiciously.

“Upon inspection, we found five tea packets filled with what we believe were drugs and other smaller plastic bags containing ecstasy pills,” he said yesterday.

He said the 22-year-old suspect was apprehended while the drugs were seized. He said the suspect was remanded for 14 days from the date of arrest.

Nasir said this raid was part of their Dragon VI operation which started from April 19 and will go on until Sept 19, this year.

The modus operandi used here was that the suspect was tasked to carry the illegal goods packed in tea packets and then smuggle them out of Tawau via sea routes to Pulau Sebatik.

Nasir urged the public to work with enforcement authorities in combating crime.

Those with information on such illegal activities can contact the Customs toll-free number at 1-800-88-8855 or go to any nearest Customs office or departments.