MIRI: Police dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate operating here following a two-day operation that led to the seizure of ecstasy powder and pills valued at over RM137,000.
The raids, conducted by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) of the Sarawak Police Contingent headquarters, took place on May 12 and 13, at a residential property along Jalan Taman Delight Utama.
In the first raid at approximately 9:00 pm on May 12, officers arrested a 44-year-old foreign national believed to be a key figure in the syndicate.
A search on the premises uncovered a significant stash of drugs: approximately 117,064 grams of suspected ecstasy powder and 146 grams of ecstasy pills (around 400 tablets), with a combined estimated street value of RM137,064.00.
A second suspect, a 43-year-old local man, was arrested the following day at around 11:00 am when he returned to the same location, allegedly to collect a new supply of drugs for distribution.
According to Miri Police Chief, ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah, during a press conference today, the syndicate operated through a two-tier system: the foreign national acted as the warehouse keeper and handler of the drug stock, while the local suspect functioned as a “runner”, responsible for distributing the drugs across the Miri area.
“Preliminary urine tests on both suspects returned positive results for drug use. The local suspect was found to have a prior criminal record, while the foreign suspect had no previous offences,” he said.
Authorities believe the total quantity of drugs seized could potentially serve up to 177,464 users.
In addition to the drug haul, police also seized a Toyota Vios, valued at RM50,000, and cash and jewellery worth RM34,638.80 believed to be proceeds from the syndicate’s operations.
Farhan revealed that the foreign suspect earned RM1,500 monthly for storing and managing the drug supplies, and received a commission of RM500 to RM1,000 depending on the volume moved.
Meanwhile, the local runner received RM200 per delivery.
Both suspects are currently under seven-day remand orders , the local suspect until May 20 and the foreign suspect until May 21, as investigations continue under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, no fewer than 15 strokes of the cane.
Also present was Miri Police Deputy Chief, Supt Nurashyikin Abdullah.
