RM3.07mil syabu syndicate in Sarawak used ‘drop car’ method, some drugs bound for Indonesia

KUCHING, July 29: Police have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate in Sarawak that used an unusual ‘drop car’ method to move 83kg of syabu worth RM3.07 million, some of which is believed to have been bound for smuggling across the border into Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Dato’ Hussein Omar Khan revealed during a press conference yesterday that the syndicate, active since early 2025, used a unique modus operandi of placing the drugs in unlocked vehicles for buyers to retrieve, thereby avoiding direct contact.
Acting on intelligence, officers from Bukit Aman’s NCID and Sarawak police launched a raid on July 19 at about 8.50pm in Kota Sentosa, where they intercepted a Perodua Alza and arrested two local men.

Inside the vehicle, they discovered a black bag and three brown boxes containing 80 green packets labelled ‘Guanyinwang’, each filled with crystal-like substances believed to be syabu.

“The total weight of the seized drugs is 83kg, with an estimated street value of RM3.07 million. This amount could have destroyed the lives of approximately 415,000 individuals,” he said.

Both suspects, aged between 25 and 27, are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment with no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction. They have been remanded for seven days from July 21 to 27 to assist with investigations.

Initial urine screening showed that the second suspect tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine. Background checks revealed that the first suspect had prior records involving offences under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and Section 182 of the Penal Code for providing false information.

In addition to the drug seizure, police also confiscated RM1,100 in cash under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, bringing the total value of seizures in the case to RM3.072 million.
Hussein said initial investigations indicated that the drugs were flown into Sarawak from Peninsular Malaysia via air routes, and were intended for both local use and cross-border trafficking into Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Police believe the two suspects acted as middlemen or second-tier distributors in a larger network, tasked with transporting and facilitating the drop-off of drugs for further distribution in Sarawak and possibly beyond.

“Some of the syabu was meant for local users in Sarawak, but we believe part of the consignment was in the process of being moved to Indonesia,” he said, adding that investigations are ongoing to identify both the source and final recipients.

When asked how the drugs had entered Sarawak undetected, Hussein acknowledged existing gaps in airport screening systems, particularly in checked luggage and courier shipments, and did not rule out possible insider involvement.

“This is not the first time drugs have slipped through our airports into Kuching. We are reviewing airport security protocols and strengthening inter-agency cooperation, especially with the Malaysian Immigration Department and the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS),” he said.

He added that enforcement efforts would focus on tightening domestic cargo checks and enhancing detection capabilities through the use of X-ray scanners and K9 units.

Also present at the press conference were Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata, Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Saifullizan Ishak, Federal NCID Deputy Director (Intelligence/Operations) Datuk Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali, and Sarawak NCID chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah.