BELURAN: Police thwarted an attempt by two suspects to smuggle 4.072kg of syabu from Tawau to Sarawak after the General Operations Force intercepted a car at the Sapi Nangoh Road Check Point.
Beluran district police chief Supt Hasan Majid said that in the 11am incident last Friday, one of the suspects, aged 43, was detained at the checkpoint.
However, the car driver managed to escape by speeding off during the inspection.
Police said the driver had been identified.
He had a criminal record in Negri Sembilan for drug-related offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
His last known address is Long Nahan Baram, Sarawak.
“Initial investigations showed that the suspects came to Tawau to pick up the syabu and were headed back to Sarawak where the drugs would be distributed or sold in the local market,” Supt Hasan said, Bernama reported.
During the incident, police stopped the car, and one of the suspects accompanied them to open its boot, where a black plastic bag was found.
“However, the driver suddenly stepped on the accelerator and sped off towards Jalan Telupid-Ranau.
“Four red packets labelled Chinese tea were found when the black plastic bag was opened. All four packets contained syabu valued at RM130,304,” Supt Hasan added.
The detained suspect, who will be remanded for seven days and investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, has two previous drug-related offences and also tested positive for drugs.
Supt Hasan urged anyone with information to contact investigation officer Insp Mohd Solahuddin Mohamad at 019-981 0144 or the Beluran district police headquarters at 089-511 1222.
