KOTA KINABALU: Royal Malaysian Customs Department Sabah crippled an attempt to smuggle drugs, seizing 98kg of methamphetamine and ganja.
The seized drugs, with an estimated market value of almost RM2.9mil, were intercepted in two separate operations via air freight on Nov 29 and Dec 9.
According to the state Zone Customs assistant director-general Siti Mang, the first case was detected at MAS Cargo, where three parcels containing methamphetamine were confiscated.
“The drugs, weighing 60.9kg, have an estimated market value of RM1.95mil,” she said on Tuesday (Jan 7).
The second seizure occurred at 10.30am when two parcels containing 20.2kg of methamphetamine were intercepted.
“All the drugs, hidden in A4 paper boxes, are estimated to be worth RM696,114,” she added during a press conference at the department’s enforcement office in Sepanggar on Tuesday (Jan 7).
She added that between Nov 20 and Dec 20, the department also confiscated 28 parcels containing compressed blocks of dried plants suspected to be cannabis.
“These seizures involved 17.1kg of drugs, with an estimated market value of RM250,038.
“Further investigations are underway under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death sentence or life imprisonment, along with whipping, upon conviction,” she explained.
In an unrelated case, Siti said the department seized 50 boxes of chewing tobacco at Sepanggar Port on Jan 2.
The prohibited substance, valued at RM194,810, including taxes, was confiscated due to the absence of a valid import permit.
“The modus operandi involved false declarations, violating Section 79 of the Customs Act 1967,” she added.
