LUNDU: Police have seized methamphetamine worth RM34,513.60 and detained two foreign nationals during three separate raids here this week.
Lundu District police chief Supt Sudirman Kram said the operations were carried out between 6.30 pm on Oct 2 and 12.30 am on Oct 3 by the Sarawak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) together with the Lundu district’s narcotics division, following intelligence gathering.
“In the first raid, police arrested a 33-year-old foreign man at the back parking lot of a hotel in Lundu town, where he was found with 7 grams of suspected methamphetamine worth RM770.
“Acting on the suspect’s lead, police later raided a hotel room in town and seized another 304.08 grams of methamphetamine, valued at RM33,448.80,” he said in a statement.
He said a third raid at a house in Kampung Stungkor led to the arrest of another foreign man, aged 36, with 2.68 grams of methamphetamine worth RM294.80.
“The total drugs seized could have endangered as many as 1,568 users,” he said, adding that both suspects tested negative in urine screenings, had no prior criminal records, and did not possess valid travel documents.
Sudirman said the first suspect is being investigated under Section 39B and Section 39A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“Section 39B carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 12 strokes of cane. Meanwhile, Section 39A(1) provides for imprisonment of between two and five years and no fewer than three and not more than nine strokes of the cane,” he said.
He added that the second suspect is being investigated under Section 12(3) of the same Act, which carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Both suspects have been remanded for seven days until Oct 11 under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to assist in investigations.
Sudirman said police are also pursuing other syndicate members still at large to cripple the network completely.
“The police will not compromise with any parties involved in drug trafficking. Possessing, distributing or protecting drug activities is a serious offence under the law,” he stressed.
He also urged the public to assist by channeling any information on drug-related activities through the NCID hotline at 012-2087222.
“In the first raid, police arrested a 33-year-old foreign man at the back parking lot of a hotel in Lundu town, where he was found with 7 grams of suspected methamphetamine worth RM770.
“Acting on the suspect’s lead, police later raided a hotel room in town and seized another 304.08 grams of methamphetamine, valued at RM33,448.80,” he said in a statement.
He said a third raid at a house in Kampung Stungkor led to the arrest of another foreign man, aged 36, with 2.68 grams of methamphetamine worth RM294.80.
“The total drugs seized could have endangered as many as 1,568 users,” he said, adding that both suspects tested negative in urine screenings, had no prior criminal records, and did not possess valid travel documents.
Sudirman said the first suspect is being investigated under Section 39B and Section 39A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“Section 39B carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 12 strokes of cane. Meanwhile, Section 39A(1) provides for imprisonment of between two and five years and no fewer than three and not more than nine strokes of the cane,” he said.
He added that the second suspect is being investigated under Section 12(3) of the same Act, which carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Both suspects have been remanded for seven days until Oct 11 under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to assist in investigations.
Sudirman said police are also pursuing other syndicate members still at large to cripple the network completely.
“The police will not compromise with any parties involved in drug trafficking. Possessing, distributing or protecting drug activities is a serious offence under the law,” he stressed.
He also urged the public to assist by channeling any information on drug-related activities through the NCID hotline at 012-2087222.