KUCHING: Sarawak narcotics police successfully crippled a drug refining and distribution syndicate with the arrests of two Sabahans and seizure of RM394,000 worth of various drugs.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata, in a press conference, said that the suspects aged 26 and 29, were arrested following a raid on an apartment in Batu Kawa here around 4.30pm last Friday (March 22).
He revealed that the seized drugs, comprising 11.9kg of methamphetamine and 66g of ketamine, have a market value of RM394,000.
“These drugs are intended to be used by 59,632 users and would be distributed around Kuching and nearby districts according to customer requests.
“Preliminary investigations found that the modus operandi used by the syndicate, which have been active since 2022, is to obtain drug supplies from the Peninsular and refine the drugs in the apartment and distribute it to consumers,” he said at Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) today (March 25).
Also seized from the suspects; 22 various equipment used to refine the drugs, a Perodua Bezza worth RM40,000, a gold chain worth RM10,345.60, and a Louis Vuitton Paris sling bag worth RM12,000.
He stated that the 29-year-old suspect was tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine and ketamine, and had prior records related to narcotic offenses.
Meanwhile, the other suspect tested negative for drugs and did not have any prior records.
Both suspects are being remanded until March 30 to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, shall be punished with up to 12 lashes of the cane, upon conviction.
He added that the Sarawak Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) will continue their investigations to detect the remaining members of the syndicate.
In the meantime, Comm Mancha disclosed that from Jan 1 to March 23, the department has arrested a total of 2,887 individuals, including 169 drug pushers, for various narcotic crimes.
Various drugs worth RM9.2mil were also seized and the property of syndicate members worth RM1.4mil was confiscated throughout this period.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Ibrahim Darus, Sarawak NCID chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah, Sarawak NCID deputy chief Supt Gabriel Risut and Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Maria Rasid.
