KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police have seized over RM3.25mil worth of drugs and arrested 10 suspects in a series of operations around the state.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the operations saw a total of 63kg of syabu, 31kg of THC (cannabis) liquid, 1kg of ecstasy pills and 4.49g of ganja confiscated.
He said the first arrest involved a 26-year-old man in Taman Heng Long, Semporna, on May 3, where 15 boxes of vape and pods totalling 10,000 cartridges as well 7.57 litres of blue liquid believed to be laced with THC were seized.
"The seized items weighing around 31kg were worth about RM93,000," he told a press conference here on Wednesday (May 20).
Comm Jauteh said the state Narcotics Crime Investigation Department carried out several follow-up raids in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, where a woman and two men, aged 38 to 52, were arrested.
"These three suspects are believed to be involved in transactions and delivery of vape and THC liquid. They will be investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," he said.
The second operation involved a syabu and ecstasy distribution syndicate with six suspects arrested in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Sipitang from May 11.
An initial raid was carried out at around 7pm at the parking area of a commercial centre where two men in a car were detained and an inspection of the vehicle found 2kg of syabu, Comm Jauteh added.
"A total of 50 more packages of syabu weighing 50.95kg were later seized from a rented room in Penampang, while a further 10kg of syabu and two packets of ecstasy powder were found in a rented room nearby," he said.
Several other suspects were subsequently detained and a manhunt has been initiated for the syndicate ringleader, Comm Jauteh said.
A man believed to be the ringleader's assistant was later arrested at the Customs, Immigration and quarantine post in Sindumin while trying to flee to Miri, Sarawak.
According to Comm Jauteh, the total seizure from this case alone – involving 63.18kg of syabu, ecstasy powder and ketamine – is valued at around RM3.16mil.
All the cases are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, with convicted offenders liable to the death penalty or life in prison.
"We will not compromise on any sort of drug abuse or distribution, and will come down hard on criminals involved in this activity," Comm Jauteh said while urging the public to continue channelling information to the police.
He said they can provide any information on drug offences to the police at 012-2087222.
