SIBU: A drug trafficking syndicate that has been active around the Sibu district for the past few months has been successfully dismantled, thanks to the swift action of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) through the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) of the Sarawak Contingent.
In an operation on October 22, police arrested a 57-year-old local man at a residential house in Rejang Park and seized 2,055.85 grammes of syabu.
Sibu District Police Chief, ACP Zulkipli Suhaili, said further investigations led to another raid at a courier service premises in Jalan Maju, where police found another 1,038.84 grammes of syabu suspected to have been sent from Peninsular Malaysia.
“In total, the police managed to seize 3,094.69 grammes of syabu worth RM117,598.22 which can be used by about 15,474 drug addicts,” he said during a press conference held at the Police headquarters here today.
He said this operation’s success has crippled a drug trafficking syndicate in Sibu which is believed to have been active since April.
“Investigations found that the suspect acted as a ‘runner’ and ‘store keeper’ for the syndicate. They used courier services to distribute supplies from Peninsular Malaysia for the local market,” said Zulkipli.
The results of a urine test on the suspect showed positive results for amphetamine and methamphetamine, in addition to having three previous criminal records involving offences under the Open Gambling Houses Act and the Penal Code.
The suspect is now remanded for six days from October 23 to 29 to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death.
“The police through the JSJN will also actively hunt down other remaining members who are still at large to ensure that this syndicate is completely paralysed,” he said.
Zulkipli stressed that the success of this operation was the result of strategic cooperation between the JSJN of the Sarawak PDRM and the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), in a concerted effort to combat drug trafficking activities, a major threat to national security.
“PDRM will continue to be committed to crippling drug trafficking networks to protect current and future generations,” he said, calling on the public to channel any information related to drug activities via the JSJN Hotline Bukit Aman at 012-2087222 or the JSJN Sarawak Hotline at 017-5929211.
