KOTA KINABALU: Five suspected first-time drug transporters and dealers are facing the possible death penalty after they were arrested in several raids here and Tawau that saw narcotics worth over RM2.5mil seized.
In the first case, a 36-year-old freelancer in the architecture industry was detained upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport here on March 11, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun.
He said the man from Klang, Selangor, was found with three boxes of suspected methamphetamine weighing around 30.30kg and valued about RM1.5mil when his bags went through the luggage scanner.
He said the drugs were stored in wine boxes, and were packed in transparent plastic packets.
Personnel from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) were conducting an operation with the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) at around 11.15pm prior to the arrest, Comm Jauteh told a press conference here on Wednesday (March 18).
"The suspect tested negative for drugs, and has no previous convictions. We believe this is the first time he took the job as a drug transporter from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah," he said, adding that the suspect will be remanded until Friday (March 20).
In an unrelated case in Tawau, a man was arrested when police found over RM1.1mil worth of drugs in a car storages premise at around 7.30pm on Friday (March 13).
Comm Jauteh said the 42-year-old suspect was an employee at the premises and was caught while trying to flee when the authorities raided the place.
"Initial inspection of the premises led to the discovery of several packets of 'Chinese tea' in which the drugs were found," he said, adding that the narcotics weighed over 3kg and were worth around RM153,000.
The second suspect has been remanded until Sunday (March 22), he said.
After interrogating the suspect, police raided a house in Kg Jawa Tawau, where a family of three comprising two men and a woman was apprehended, Comm Jauteh said.
In this raid, police seized 20.48kg of syabu valued at RM1.02mil.
"The suspects, a man aged 44, a 36-year-old woman and an elderly man, 73, are believed to be a family. They will be remanded until Sunday," he said.
All those arrested in the raids are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty, or life imprisonment with caning, upon conviction, Comm Jauteh said.
"We believe the KKIA and Tawau cases involve different syndicates," he added.
He thanked AKPS, the public and other agencies involved in this operation, which led to the arrests and seizures.
He also urged the public to continue sharing information of any suspicious activities to the NCID at 012-208 7222 for immediate action.
