SIBU: Customs officers foiled an attempt to smuggle 26.52kg of methamphetamine worth RM875,160 into Sarawak.
Sarawak Custom director Norizan Yahya said that on March 13, around 11.55 am, customs officers from the Sibu Airport Passenger Inspection Unit (UPP) and Sibu’ enforcement branch picked up a local man in his 20s at the airport.
“The man was detained following a positive narcotics indication from an imaging scan of the box he carried. Subsequent inspection unveiled 13 packages containing crystal powder suspected to be methamphetamine, weighing about 13.26kg, with an estimated market value of RM437,580.
“Preliminary investigations showed that he is a drug mule responsible for smuggling narcotics into Sarawak. The Sibu Magistrate’s Court granted a six-day remand order starting March 14, for investigative purposes,” she added.
Separately on March 14 at around noon, JKDM also seized an unclaimed box at Sibu Airport showing signs of narcotics. Subsequent inspection by the enforcement branch uncovered 13 packages of suspected methamphetamine, weighing approximately 13.26 kilograms, valued at around RM437,580.00.
“The Sibu enforcement branch is currently working to track down the individual who left the box at the airport. The modus operandi in these instances entails smuggling narcotics from Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak via transit, hiding them within boxes alongside snacks to evade detection by authorities.
“Given the quantity of drugs seized, these confiscations have effectively halted distribution to an estimated 132,600 drug users,” she added.
Under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, these cases are subject to investigation in which an individual arrested under this section can face life imprisonment, with a minimum penalty of 15 strokes of the cane if the court imposes life imprisonment.
For the period from January to March 19, the Customs Department recorded seizures of methamphetamine totalling 41.95kg, estimated at RM1,384,350 at the Sibu Airport.
