Sabah JKDM seizes 30.395kg of drugs worth RM1.67m

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Royal Malaysian Customs (JKDM) seized 30.395 kilograms of methamphetamine estimated to be worth RM1.67 million and detained two male Malaysian suspects at two separate locations on April 8.
JKDM deputy director-general (Enforcement and Compliance) Datuk Zulkifli Yahya said both individuals involved were detained at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and Lahad Datu Airport at around 11.46am and 4.30pm, respectively, on the same day.
He said the first suspect, aged 26, who had just arrived from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was detained at KKIA while the second suspect, aged 27, was detained at the Lahad Datu Airport after Customs personnel scanned their baggage and found suspicious-looking images.
"Following further examination on the baggage of the first suspect, Customs personnel found 15 packets of clear crystals kept in yellow-coloured tea packets weighing about 15.168kg, while another 15 packets of clear crystals kept in yellow-coloured tea packets weighing about 15.227kg were found in the baggage of the second suspect.
"Both suspects were believed to be from the same syndicate as they both came from Kuala Lumpur on the same flight. One of them stopped at KKIA while the other continued to fly to Lahad Datu," he said at a media conference, here today.
Also present was Sabah JKDM Director Datuk Hamzah Sundang.
Zulkifli said the Customs Department was still investigating whether the drugs were meant for the local or external market.
He said the investigation revealed both suspects had come to Sabah and Sarawak on 17 and 11 occasions since last July, but it could not be confirmed whether the suspects had smuggled in drugs or otherwise.
Both suspects were remanded until Sunday and the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
In another development, Zulkifli said Sabah JKDM had foiled three attempts to smuggle in ganja via parcel post with two cases at the Parcel Post Branch of the Kota Kinabalu Customs Office on March 16 and 22, while the other case was at the Tawau Post Office on March 19, with the total weight of the seizure about 7kg worth RM19,600.
"The outcome of investigations on the three cases revealed that the names and telephone numbers written on the packages were false and did not exist," he said.
Throughout 2018, the Sabah JKDM carried out 11 seizures involving drug smuggling attempts via the airports throughout the state, and at the postal baggage branch with an estimated weight of 148.5 kg worth RM7.9 million. — Bernama