TAWAU: The modus operandi of a syndicate using second-hand vehicles to conceal their drugs to bring them to Sabah was busted by Bukit Aman anti-narcotic team following separate raids in Tawau and Sarawak.
Four suspects aged between 34 and 52 including a syndicate leader were arrested along with the seizure of various types of drugs estimated to be worth more than RM18.79mil during the operations codenamed Op Hymenoptera that was followed with Op Coleoptera.
Bukit Aman Narcostic director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said in Sabah, two local men were arrested in two raids on April 21 and May 1, following cooperation with the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).
The first raid at Batu 15, Jalan Apas, Tawau saw the arrest of two suspects. A search in their sports utility vehicle uncovered 128 transparent plastic packets containing methamphetamine weighing 130.60kg.
“Following that, a second raid was conducted on two more vehicles — a Nissan Sylphy and a Toyota Camry — at Bandar Sri Indah, Batu 10, Jalan Apas (in Tawau).
The search found 85 packages of meth weighing 90.41kg and 488 packets containing liquid suspected to be fentanyl amounting to 0.98 litres in the Nissan Sylphy,” he said at a press conference at the Tawau District Police Headquarters Thursday (May 7).
Further inspection of the Toyota Camry revealed 99 packages of meth weighing 102.90kg.
He said the the total seizures in Sabah amounted to 323.91kg of methamphetamine and 0.98 litres of fentanyl, with an estimated value of RM16.34mil.
“These drugs could have harmed about 1.58 million users,” he said, adding that syndicate is believed to have been active since January, using second-hand vehicles and hiding drugs in concealed compartments before transporting them to Sabah.
He added that the first suspect acted as a transporter, while the second was believed to be a syndicate member.
“Checks revealed the first suspect had six prior criminal records involving five drug cases and one criminal case, while the second suspect had two criminal records, he said, adding that asset forfeiture involving total seizures worth RM34,000, including a Volkswagen Passat, a Yamaha Y16ZR motorcycle, and RM8,000 in cash has been initiated..
Following Op Coleoptera in Sarawak on May 2, he said they arrested two local men in two raids in Miri, Sarawak.
Searches at two houses seized RM820,000 in cash and several luxury vehicles, including a Mercedes G-Wagon Brabus, two Ford Mustangs, and a Toyota Harrier.
“The first suspect is believed to be the syndicate leader, while the second acted as a partner or transporter.
“The syndicate is believed to have been active since June last year, smuggling drugs using various methods, including container shipments via sea routes, before distributing them to Sabah, Sarawak, and international markets,” he said, adding that the total asset seizures in Sarawak were estimated at RM2.42mil.
All suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, he added.
