By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 10: Sarawak police have seized narcotics and dangerous substances worth an estimated RM26.1 million between Jan 1 and Sept 7 this year, with nearly 8,000 arrests made across the State in ongoing operations against drug trafficking and abuse.
Deputy Police Commissioner DCP Saifullizan Ishak said a total of 7,961 individuals were detained, comprising 460 drug traffickers, 1,516 for drug possession, and 5,985 drug users.
He said the latest operations resulted in two major breakthroughs with crippling a distribution syndicate in Sibu and foiling a smuggling attempt in Bintulu, which resulted in a combined seizures worth more than RM1.1 million.
On Sept 3, Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) teams from the Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters smashed a syndicate that had been active since mid-2024, arresting four suspects aged 27 to 48. The raids netted narcotics worth RM479,506.12 and assets valued at RM387,534.20.
“The raid on a house at Jalan Lilin uncovered 100 pills suspected to be ecstasy, weighing 219.20 grammes. Acting on leads from the suspect, the team then raided another house at Lorong Ulu Sungai Merah, where they seized 14.37 kilogrammes of suspected MDMA, 126.84 grammes of Erimin 5, and 149.70 grammes of ketamine,” Saifullizan said in a statement today.
The operation continued in the same area, where police arrested a 34-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman on a motorcycle. A search found 2,168.74 grammes of methamphetamine (syabu).
In total, the seized narcotics could have supplied nearly 14,000 users. Police also confiscated a Lexus RX 350, a Perodua Axia, jewellery worth RM268,738.20, and RM34,796 in cash.
Saifullizan said the syndicate sourced supplies from a Miri-based supplier via WeChat and used express buses to deliver drugs to Sibu. Residential houses were used as storage and repackaging sites, with orders taken via phone, WhatsApp and WeChat. Deliveries were made by “runners” who dropped packages at designated points for customers to collect.
On Sept 2, in Bintulu, police intercepted 17 kilogrammes of methamphetamine smuggled from Peninsular Malaysia by air cargo.
“The drugs, worth an estimated RM663,000, were concealed in food boxes labelled ‘coconut sugar’ and could have been consumed by about 85,000 addicts. Further investigations are underway, with NCID tracking those responsible,” he said.
All suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, with no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death.
Saifullizan stressed that the operations were made possible through continuous intelligence efforts and strong public cooperation.
“The NCID is committed to fighting drugs to safeguard both current and future generations. Drugs remain the nation’s number one enemy,” he said. — DayakDaily
