KUCHING: A teenage girl was among five individuals arrested for allegedly trafficking RM1.4mil worth of syabu drugs from the Peninsular to Sarawak.
The suspects, comprising three men and two women aged between 17 and 22, were nabbed in an ‘Op Tapis Khas’ at separate locations in Bintawa and Stutong between 10.45am and 2.20pm on Oct 12.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the drugs, kept inside Chinese tea packages, were seized at a hotel in Jalan Nanas on the same day.
Also confiscated was a Perodua Aruz car worth RM50,000.
“The suspects had obtained the drug supplies from an accomplice in the Peninsular.
“The drugs, with an estimate weight of 42.2kg, were brought into Kuching by plane.
“It is believed that the drugs were intended to be sold to 212,495 consumers in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri,” he said at a press conference here on Monday (Oct 16).
Background checks revealed that one of the suspects had two prior records for drug-related offences under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 and Section 15(1)(a) of the same Act and a prior record for gambling under Section 4(1)(C) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
All five suspects are being remanded for seven days from Oct 13 to 20 to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the DDA 1952.
In a similar update, Comm Mohd Azman said the fourth series of ‘Op Tapis Khas’, involving 237 police officers and members, was conducted from Oct 10 to 12.
“A total of 278 people were arrested for various drug offences in the operation. The figure comprised 252 men and 26 women aged between 15 and 63.
“The arrestees consisted of 27 drug traffickers, 163 drug users and 10 hardcore users.
“In addition, 65 were arrested for drug possession, four were arrested under special measures and nine were wanted persons,” he said.
Of the figure, nine cases are being investigated under Section 39B DDA 1952; 18 cases under Section 39A(1); 10 cases under Section 39C; 62 cases under Section 12(2); three cases under Section 6; four cases under Section 3(1) DDA Special Prevention Measures (LLPK) 1985; 163 cases under Section 15(1)(a); and nine wanted person cases.
In the operation, the team seized various drugs weighing a total of 42.5kg.
Comm Mohd Azman said action was also taken under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1998, whereby cash amounting to RM1,600 and a Perodua Aruz worth RM50,000 were confiscated.
Also present at the conference were Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata, Sarawak Narcotics Crime Investigation Department chief ACP Mustapha Kamal Gani and Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department chief SAC Wong Ing Fung.
