A drug syndicate’s attempt to smuggle large quantities of methamphetamine into Sabah by concealing the drugs inside a vehicle transported from Peninsular Malaysia by sea was foiled after police seized 159.8kg of syabu worth an estimated RM7.9 million.
Three individuals, including a woman aged between 28 and 53, were arrested during a series of raids conducted under Op Bayu 9 on May 22 near a shopping centre and a hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the operation began with the arrest of a man who was seen carrying boxes before attempting to flee towards a nearby shopping mall.
“Police successfully detained the suspect and subsequent inspections led to the discovery of nine packages containing 9.10kg of syabu,” he said during a press conference at the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters on Wednesday.
Investigations following the initial arrest led officers to a hotel in the city centre, where two more suspects believed to be involved in the drug distribution network were detained.
Further raids at a house in Inanam uncovered 68 packages of syabu weighing 69.8kg.
Later that night, police inspected a Perodua Alza parked in the area and discovered another 79 packages containing 80.9kg of syabu.
Jauteh said the drugs had been carefully hidden inside various compartments of the vehicle, including the passenger doors, rear seats and storage areas, indicating a sophisticated smuggling method.
He revealed that the female suspect acted as the middle person responsible for coordinating the operation.
“After receiving orders and deposits from buyers, she would arrange for the drug supply to be brought in from Peninsular Malaysia before handing it over to other individuals for distribution,” he said.
The two male suspects are believed to have handled the delivery of the drugs to customers, with investigators suspecting that part of the supply was intended for the local market while the remainder was destined for overseas distribution.
Police also believe the Perodua Alza used in the operation belonged to another individual and was being used as a ‘drug mule’ vehicle, although investigations are ongoing.
The suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
