TAWAU, May 7 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) seized 323.91 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine and 0.98 litres of fentanyl, with a total estimated value of RM16.34 million, during Operation Hymenoptera conducted on April 21 and May 1 in Tawau.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that in the first raid at Batu 15 Jalan Apas, the police seized 128 transparent plastic packets suspected to contain methamphetamine, weighing approximately 130.60 kg, and a Toyota Harrier vehicle.
He said two local men aged 36 and 52 were also arrested in the raid, with the first suspect believed to be the ‘transporter’ and testing positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, while the second suspect is a syndicate member.
He said that following the arrest, a second raid was conducted on two vehicles, a Nissan Sylphy and a Toyota Camry, in Bandar Sri Indah, Batu 10, and that it is believed that the syndicate has been active since the beginning of this year.
“In the Nissan vehicle, the police found methamphetamine weighing 90.41 kg and a liquid suspected to be fentanyl weighing 0.98 litres, while in the Toyota Camry, 99 transparent plastic packets suspected to contain methamphetamine weighing 102.90 kg were found,” he said at a press conference at the Tawau police headquarters here today.
Hussein Omar said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and if convicted, the offender can be sentenced to death by hanging or life imprisonment and caning of not less than 12 strokes.
He said the suspects were charged in court yesterday (May 6), and both defendants have records of drug offences and past criminal activities, and that action was also taken under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Forfeiture of Property) 1988, with a total seizure amounting to RM34,000.
He said the syndicate’s modus operandi involved using second-hand vehicles to hide drugs, in the vehicle’s interior, which were brought from Sepanggar Port before being sent to Tawau.
Hussein Omar said Tawau has become a transit hub for smuggling prohibited substances, not only for local use but also for sale or distribution to other countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia.
“The police believe that the drugs came from the Golden Triangle or the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia, passing through the Klang Valley and smuggled into Sabah and Sarawak for use here and in neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that the mastermind of the syndicate had fled the country, while syndicate members had been arrested. — Bernama
