MIRI: More than RM2.75-million worth of suspected methamphetamine has been taken off the streets following the arrest of an alleged drug syndicate runner last week.
The 27-year-old local man was taken into custody by Miri Narcotics Crime Investigation Division (NCID) during a raid at a house along Jalan Cahaya Miri Bypass on July 8.
Police also seized 30 kilogrammes (kg) of suspected methamphetamine in the said house before the suspect led investigators to another house in Jalan Acacia, where an additional 25 kg of the drug was discovered.
A Proton Iswara believed to have been used by the suspect to transport and distribute the drugs around Miri was also confiscated.
Sarawak Police Commissioner, Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, said the total haul of 55 kg has an estimated street value of RM2.75 million and could have supplied about 275,000 drug users.
“Investigations found that the suspect had been acting as a runner for the syndicate since June this year, receiving instructions from his handlers via Telegram.
“The syndicate employed a contactless delivery method, whereby the suspect would collect a vehicle after it had been loaded with drugs by other syndicate members before transporting and leaving the drugs at designated locations without meeting the recipients face-to-face,” he said at a press conference today.
The suspect was paid RM7,000 by a syndicate member in Miri and had also been promised another RM15,000 for collecting and delivering drug consignments.
Background checks found that he has one prior criminal record under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and one drug-related record under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
A preliminary urine screening also returned positive for methamphetamine.
Zainal said the suspect is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and, if the death penalty is not imposed, up to 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
“He has been remanded twice under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code and remains in custody until July 20,” he said.
Between January 1 and July 12 this year, Sarawak NCID has recorded 8,460 drug-related arrests, an increase of 2,085 arrests equivalent to 32.7 per cent, compared with 6,375 arrests during the corresponding period last year.
In the same period, police seized drugs and poisonous substances worth RM64 million, an increase of RM52.9 million equivalent to 477.8 per cent, from RM11 million recorded over the same period in 2025.
Members of the public are urged to continue cooperating with police by providing information on drug trafficking and drug abuse activities to Bukit Aman NCID at 012-2087222 or Sarawak NCID at 017-5929211.
