KUCHING: Police busted a drug trafficking syndicate through four separate raids around Kuching and Padawan on July 3 to 4, seizing 26.97 kilograms (kg) of suspected methamphetamine (syabu) worth RM1.35 million.
Kuching District Police Chief, ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said that in the operation from 4.35 pm to 12.30 midnight, police arrested seven individuals consisting of four locals and three Indonesians, with an age range between 25 and 46 years old.
He said the first raid in a residential area on Jalan Matang led to the arrest of a 31-year-old local man and the seizure of 60.5 grams (g) of drugs suspected to be methamphetamine.
“Following that, police raided an apartment on Jalan Batu Kawa and arrested a 43-year-old local man, a 44-year-old local woman, two Indonesian men aged 37 and 46, respectively, and a 34-year-old Indonesian woman.
An examination found 5.45g of suspected methamphetamine.
“The third raid in front of a shop in Jalan Setia Raja, Stutong led to the arrest of a 25-year-old local man with 5.3kg of drugs suspected to be methamphetamine,” he said in a statement today.
Alexson said information from the arrests then led to a fourth raid at an apartment on Jalan Tabuan Tranquility, which found another 21.6kg of drugs suspected to be methamphetamine.
“The total amount of drugs seized is estimated to be able to supply about 134,500 addicts. Investigations found that the arrested syndicate members received wages of between RM3,000 and RM6,000 a month as runners, to distribute drugs around Kuching and Padawan,” he said.
Alexson said the modus operandi was believed to be receiving instructions from upliners to deliver drugs using the drop and collect method , which is placing drug supplies at designated locations without meeting customers face to face, to avoid their activities being detected by the authorities.
He said the case is currently being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and if not sentenced to death, the offender can be given no less than 12 strokes of the cane if convicted.
— BERNAMA
