KOTA KINABALU: A foreign man and a local woman have been arrested in connection with the seizure of almost RM400,000 worth of syabu.
Sabah Narcotics Crime Investigation Department chief Asst Comm Lam Thiam Huat said the drugs were seized in three raids and believed to have been sent by courier from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah on the way to neighbouring countries.
He said Sabah was believed to be a transit point and that an international syndicate was involved.
However, further investigation was needed to determine the full details, he added.
ACP Lam said police first detained the 29-year-old man near a housing area in Cyber City at around 12.30pm on March 10.
“There was a brief scuffle with the suspect, who was carrying a box at the time,” he told a press conference on Wednesday (March 16).
He said the suspect was overpowered and arrested.
An inspection of the box led to the discovery of drugs weighing 6.03kg and valued at around RM240,000, he added.
After being interrogated, the suspect led police to his rented house in Penampang district at about 6.30pm the same day where more drugs were stored.
“We confiscated 3.02kg of syabu worth RM120,000 and seized his passport,” ACP Lam said.
On Monday (March 14), based on information from the suspect, police raided the Tenom post office and seized a box filled with more than 1kg of drugs at 2.15pm.
“The drugs are worth around RM36,000,” ACP Lam said, adding that a woman was detained the same day at around 7.30pm in Tenom to facilitate investigations.
He said the total amount of drugs seized in the three raids was over 10kg and worth RM396,000.
Also confiscated in the raids were a car, motorcycle, gold necklaces and cash worth about RM100,000 in total, he added.
“We are hunting for two more suspects believed to be the masterminds,” ACP Lam said.
He added that police were working closely with courier and delivery companies as the criminals were using these services for their illegal activities.