Published on: Saturday, March 09, 2013 |
State Customs Director Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok said the drugs were discovered after customs personnel from the Passenger Inspection Unit and Enforcement Division traced two suspicious luggages through the scanning machine.
"After inspecting the luggages, we found 28 smaller bags which contained white substances cleverly hidden in secret compartments," he told a media conference, Friday. Also present were his Deputy Director (Enforcement and Compliance) Hamzah Sundang and other senior officers.
"We believe the white substances to be Methamphetamine (Syabu) weighing 2.608kg and Ketamine weighing 12.26kg," he said, adding that the overall weight totaled to 14.87kg.
He said a 26-year-old Malaysian man was detained to facilitate investigations, adding the case would be investigated under Section 39(b) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. The man would be remanded for seven days and brought to court after investigations are completed.
Meanwhile, he said, the Department also managed to solve three drug cases, comprising Ketamine and Syabu weighing 21.11kg worth about RM1.5million in 2011, adding that three men and a woman were arrested following the seizure.
"Last year, we were also able to solve three drug cases involving syabu weighing 5.52kg worth about RM1.4million and from these cases six arrests were made," he said, adding that out of the six arrested, four are Filipinos.
"We believe airports in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan have become destinations to smuggle in drugs from outside the country," he said, adding that drug trafficking is an offence under Section 39 (b) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries death penalty upon conviction.
