KUCHING: Sarawak police crippled two drug trafficking operations this month, seizing drugs worth over RM17mil and arresting four suspects in two separate cases.
State Police Commissioner Datuk Mohammad Zainal Abdullah said the first case involved the arrest of a couple at a homestay in the Santubong area on April 7.
"The state Narcotics Crime Investigation Department successfully disrupted a drug distribution activity in the Kuching area, with total seizures valued at RM16.2mil," he told a press conference on Thursday (April 23).
The suspects, aged 41 and 31, worked at a pub and were believed to be acting as packers and distributors for the syndicate.
Police seized 107,524g of methamphetamine stored in a barrel, along with 1,283g of ketamine, 180g of Erimin 5 pills, 102g of ecstasy pills, and 28g of syabu, he added.
Equipment believed to be used for drug processing and packaging was also confiscated.
Comm Zainal said the seized drugs could potentially supply up to 16,952 users.
"Investigations revealed that the suspects were paid a monthly salary of RM3,000, in addition to a commission of RM5 for each package sold," he added.
He said the syndicate’s modus operandi involved renting homestays for several days to package drugs before distributing them through contacts arranged via WhatsApp.
"We have identified the group, which is believed to have been active since early April.
"One of the suspects has three previous offences under Section 489C of the Penal Code for possession of counterfeit currency," he added.
Both suspects tested negative for drugs.
Police also seized a vehicle valued at RM15,000 and cash amounting to RM1,856.
The couple has since been charged with four counts under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, one count under Section 39A(1), and two counts under Section 12(2) of the same Act.
In a separate case, Comm Zainal said that police, acting on intelligence from the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), arrested two local men aged 28 and 38 on Sunday (April 19).
"Further inspection led to the discovery of 1,281 canisters suspected to contain cannabis, weighing a total of 3,202.50g, with an estimated market value of RM576,450," he said, adding that the drugs could potentially supply 1,281 users.
He said the two suspects are believed to have acted as runners and transporters, receiving RM8,000 for each delivery, and were active since November.
"They also used homestays as transit points and relied on courier services to distribute the drugs," he added.
Both suspects are currently under investigation.
"Since I became the state police chief, we have managed to make arrests every day related to drug activity.
"From January to April 19, we have arrested a total of 5,151 suspects against 3,728 for the same period last year.
"The total value of drugs seized was RM31.9mil so far this year against RM3.1mil for the same period last year. This is an increase of 913%," he added.
