KOTA KINABALU: Drug syndicates continue to use airlines and courier companies to transport their illicit products into Sabah, reports the state Customs Department.
In its latest bust, Customs officials seized over RM3mil worth of drugs weighing more than 61kg at the Tawau International Airport and a warehouse on May 11, department director Dr Ahmad Taufik Sulaiman said.
“There were three raids in this operation, with the largest seizure involving a RM2.86mil bust of methamphetamine weighing over 57.27kg at the Tawau Airport,” he said in a press conference here, Wednesday (May 20).
He said in the 1.35pm bust, duty officials saw suspicious items in four pieces of luggage at the Aviation Post screening machine.
“A physical inspection was conducted on the bags and inside, 142 plastic bags filled with what was believed to be meth were found,” Ahmad said.
He said the syndicate could have used courier services to hide the drugs in plastic packets before they were stored in luggage to be shipped to Tawau.
Earlier at around 1pm, Customs officials had also confiscated a packet filled with more than 4.6kg of meth worth around RM233,900 from the Kota Kinabalu aviation post warehouse.
In this case, the syndicate was believed to have stored the drugs in packages before they were packed in boxes meant to be sent to the Semporna district using courier services, said Ahmad.
Prior to this on May 8, they had seized 375g of ecstasy pills worth RM56,250 kept in packages marked as electronic goods from the Kota Kinabalu aviation post warehouse as well.
“All three cases will be investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 where offenders could face the death penalty or a life sentence, with whipping, upon conviction,” he said.
Ahmad said the department would continue its fight against drugs and other criminal activities and urged the public to share related information via the Customs toll-free number at 1-800-88-8855 or to go to their nearest Customs Department office to provide more details.
