KOTA KINABALU: Syabu weighing about 55.4kg worth some RM1.3mil was seized from a repeat offender during an integrated operation in the city here earlier this month.

       The 50-year-old Peninsular Malaysian, who has 17 previous convictions, had gone to a courier company in Inanam near here to collect his packages when police from the state narcotics unit made their arrest.

       “Three boxes filled with what was believed to be syabu weighing at 33.62kg and valued at about RM1.21mil were also confiscated,” said Sabah deputy police commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun.

       He said following the arrest, police made another raid on an office unit at the Aeropod commercial centre near the city on Jan 9.

       Two boxes filled with syabu weighing 21.78kg, and valued at around RM784, 000 were seized.

       He said the items were packed in boxes disguised as aquarium equipment and tea packets, similar to the earlier raid.

       “We also confiscated RM102,097 from the suspect, who is unemployed,” Jauteh said, adding the suspect has been in and out of jail numerous times.

       He said the suspect was believed to belong to a national drug syndicate and has accomplices here.

       He said police were on the hunt for these accomplices as well.

       The suspect will be remanded until Jan 18 to facilitate probes under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

       If convicted, he could face the death penalty.