KOTA KINABALU: A teenager was among two people nabbed with over 20kg of drugs hidden in tea bags in their luggage at two airports in Sabah.
The suspects were apprehended separately on July 30 at Tawau Airport and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) while passing through the Customs checkpoint after arriving from Kuala Lumpur. The total value of the drugs was worth RM667,729.44.
State Customs assistant director-general Siti Mang said both suspects were caught just 30 minutes apart.
“In the first case, a 29-year-old was detained at around 12.30pm when authorities detected suspicious-looking packages in his luggage at the Tawau Airport.
“Upon inspection, we discovered 10 packs of tea packets with drugs inside. They weighed 10,199g with a market value of RM326,389,” Siti said during a press conference here yesterday.
The second suspect, an 18-year-old, was detained at KKIA at around 1pm using the same modus operandi.
He was found carrying 10 packets of the illegal substance, which weighed 10,194g in total and had a market value of more than RM341,340.
“We are investigating if these two suspects are from the same syndicate,” said Siti, adding that they were also investigating if the suspects were members of a larger syndicate.
Both suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death sentence or life imprisonment upon conviction.
She said that based on these recent arrests, they discovered that drug mules would bring illegal items in carry-on luggage on board planes.
The drugs would be packed in tea or beverage packets to confuse authorities, Siti said.
