Kota Kinabalu: An attempt to smuggle cocaine and cannabis worth almost RM3 million through courier service was thwarted by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Sabah in a raid in Tawau last month.
Sabah JKDM Director Ahmad Taufik Sulaiman said the seizure of 4.6kg of cocaine and 10.65kg of cannabis was among the largest recorded by JKDM Sabah this year.
He said during the 11.45am operation on May 21, an enforcement team raided a courier service premises and intercepted two suspicious boxes.
“Further checks led to the discovery of illicit drugs believed to be cocaine and ganja. A check of the first box revealed 10 plastic packets containing suspected cocaine, weighing an estimated 4.6kg, with a street value of over RM2 million.
“A check of the second box uncovered 10 aluminium foil packages containing compressed dried buds believed to be ganja, weighing 10.65kg, and valued at RM851,712.80. The total value of the seized drugs is RM2,900,535.80,” he told a press conference at the Customs Headquarters, here, Tuesday.
He said the syndicate’s modus operandi involved shipping the illicit substances using courier services to evade detection by the authorities.
“The drugs are believed to be destined for Lahad Datu.
Further investigations are being conducted under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment, upon conviction,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad said JKDM Sabah recorded several other seizures involving smuggled cigarettes and duty-unpaid alcoholic beverages in Keningau, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Penyu and Tawau.
“Among the seizures were 279,400 sticks of smuggled cigarettes worth RM251,618.80 in Keningau, 15,840 litres of beer valued at RM341,946 at Sepanggar Port, 4,992 litres of beer together with a lorry in Kuala Penyu, and 61,200 sticks of various cigarette brands hidden inside a Toyota Fortuner in Tawau.
A Honda Jazz worth RM63,250, believed to have been imported without paying customs duties, was also seized in Kampung Tinagat, Tawau.
“Overall, the total value of seizures involving drugs, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and vehicles in the seven separate cases exceeded RM4 million,” he said.
