TAWAU: An attempt to smuggle about 52kg of syabu, estimated to be worth more than RM2.6 million, through courier service and air cargo was busted by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) at Tawau Airport, here, on Monday.
The drug syndicate’s modus operandi was uncovered after JKDM personnel detected suspicious contents while carrying out scanning using an X-ray scanner machine at the domestic air cargo service premises.
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Upon receiving information regarding the incident, Daily Express immediately contacted JKDM, which confirmed the drug seizure but stated that further details regarding the case could not yet be disclosed.
The seized drugs were hidden inside four black bags.
Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin, when contacted by Daily Express, confirmed that JKDM had lodged a police report regarding the seizure at the Tawau District Police Headquarters (IPD) on the same day the seizure was made.
However, Jasmin said any statement regarding the case should be referred to JKDM since further investigations into it is now under the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities and not the police.
Based on drug smuggling trends into Tawau, the modus operandi of using courier service and air cargo, apart from passenger baggage, is among the tactics constantly monitored by JKDM and the District Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department.
Previous records show that drug syndicates frequently used various tactics to smuggle drugs into Tawau for local and international markets, particularly Indonesia, where syabu prices are reportedly three times higher than the market prices in Malaysia.
