Sabah police have crippled two drug trafficking syndicates involving seizures worth more than RM3.25 million following a series of raids and arrests across four districts.
Authorities confiscated over 63 kilograms of syabu, 31 kilograms of THC-based liquid, 4.49 grams of cannabis and one kilogram of powdered ecstasy during the operations.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the first case occurred on May 3 with the arrest of a 26-year-old man in Taman Heng Long, Jalan Seri Melor Tinagayan, Semporna.
He said inspections led to the discovery of 15 boxes containing various vape products and liquids suspected to contain THC.
“The seizure involved 10,000 vape cartridges weighing about 20kg, along with two blue gallon bottles containing suspected THC liquid weighing 11kg,” he said during a press conference at the Sabah Police Headquarters on Wednesday.
“The total seizure is estimated at 31 kilograms, valued at around RM93,000.”
Further investigations by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) Sabah led to follow-up raids in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, resulting in the arrest of three more individuals, including a woman and two men aged between 38 and 52.
Police believe all suspects were involved in the transportation and distribution of vape products and THC liquids, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
In a separate case, Jauteh said multiple raids were carried out targeting another syndicate involved in the distribution of syabu and ecstasy powder.
He said six individuals were arrested in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Sipitang starting May 11.
In the first operation at around 7pm at the Plaza 88 Kepayan parking area, two men were detained inside a Perodua Bezza car.
A search led to the discovery of two packages containing suspected syabu weighing 2kg, which later led investigators to a rental room at Plaza Grand Millennium, Penampang, where another 50 packages of syabu weighing 50.95kg were found.
A third raid at Asas Home New World in Penampang uncovered an additional 10kg of syabu and two packets of ecstasy powder.
Police also arrested several others, including a woman believed to be linked to the syndicate leader who remains at large.
Another suspect, believed to be an assistant to the syndicate boss, was detained while attempting to flee to Sarawak via the Sindumin CIQ checkpoint.
Total seizures in the second case amounted to 63.18kg of drugs, including syabu, ecstasy powder and ketamine, valued at approximately RM3.16 million.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
Jauteh stressed that police will not compromise with any party involved in drug trafficking activities, adding that the Narcotics CID remains committed to combating the drug threat.
He also urged the public to channel information on drug-related activities via the JSJN hotline at 012-208 7222.
