By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, July 16: Police have arrested a 27-year-old local man and seized 55 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine worth an estimated RM2.75 million in a drug trafficking operation in Miri.
Sarawak Commissioner of Police Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said the operation was carried out on July 8 by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division (NCID) of the Miri District Police Headquarters following intelligence and information gathered on suspected drug trafficking activities.
“The first raid at a house along Jalan Cahaya Miri Bypass led to the arrest of the suspect and the seizure of 30 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine.
“Following the arrest, police conducted further checks at another house in Jalan Acacia, Miri, where they discovered an additional 25 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine, bringing the total seizure to 55 kilogrammes,” he said in a statement following a press conference at IPD Miri today.
Police also seized a Proton Iswara believed to have been used by the suspect to carry out drug distribution activities around Miri.
Mohamad Zainal said the seized drugs were estimated to be worth RM2.75 million and could potentially have been consumed by about 275,000 drug users.
“Preliminary investigations found that the suspect allegedly acted as a runner for a drug trafficking syndicate and had been active since around June 2026.
“The suspect reportedly received instructions from higher-level syndicate members through the Telegram application. The syndicate’s method involved placing drugs inside vehicles parked at predetermined locations before the suspect retrieved the vehicles for delivery,” he disclosed.
Mohamad Zainal said the suspect would then deliver and leave the drugs at locations instructed by the syndicate without meeting customers directly, a method known as contactless delivery.
The suspect had allegedly received RM7,000 in payment from a syndicate member in Miri and was promised an additional RM15,000 for collecting and delivering the drugs.
Police investigations revealed that the suspect had one previous criminal record under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and one previous drug-related offence under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
A preliminary urine screening test also found the suspect to be positive for methamphetamine.
The suspect was remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for a total of 11 days with the first remand for six days from July 9 to 15, followed by a second remand for five days until July 20.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction. If the death penalty is not imposed, the offender may also face whipping of not less than 12 strokes.
Mohamad Zainal said Sarawak’s NCID recorded 8,460 drug-related arrests between Jan 1 and July 12 this year, compared with 6,375 arrests during the same period in 2025.
“The increase of 2,085 arrests, or 32.7 per cent, reflected continued enforcement efforts against drug-related activities in Sarawak,” he said.
During the same period, drug and poison seizures in Sarawak reached an estimated value of RM64 million, an increase of RM52.9 million or 477.8 per cent compared with RM11 million recorded during the same period last year.
Mohamad Zainal said the rise in arrests and seizures demonstrated the effectiveness of the police strategy known as “Tiada Hari Tanpa Tangkapan” (No Day Without Arrests), supported by continuous enforcement, intelligence gathering and integrated operations.
He added that PDRM Sarawak would continue intensifying efforts to detect, pursue and dismantle drug trafficking syndicates, disrupt supply chains, trace and seize criminal proceeds, and ensure those involved are brought before the courts.
He also urged members of the public to cooperate by providing information on drug trafficking or abuse activities.
Information can be channelled to the JSJN Bukit Aman Hotline at 012-2087222 or the JSJN Sarawak Hotline at 017-5929211. All information received will be treated confidentially, and the identity of informants will be protected. — DayakDaily
