POLICE busted two drug smuggling syndicates and detained seven men, including two civil servants, at two different locations around Tawau on March 20 and 21.

Tawau police chief Jasmin Hussin said police seized syabu worth RM130,000 during the two raids. The seven suspects will be remanded for 14 days to assist in investigations.

“On March 20, police stopped a car with five passengers at a housing estate in Tawau town and upon inspection found 103.40g of syabu. They were aged between 30 and 59.

“All five suspects, who are unemployed, were positive for drugs while four of them collectively had 19 previous criminal records for drug-related offences,” he told reporters today.

Following the arrests of the five, police managed to detain two other suspects, aged 34 and 36, both civil servants, on March 21, at 12.30pm, in Tawau town.

“During the second raid, the two suspects were in a car and when stopped by police, they tried to escape but were detained. Five packets of syabu weighing 1,177.50g was found in the car and was later seized. However, they both did not have any previous criminal records,” he said.

Jasmin said both syndicates were believed to have obtained their stock (drugs) from the same source while the suspects would be investigated under section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

He added that police have also struck a cooperation with neighbouring countries to share information and intelligence on matters related to drug smuggling as part of efforts to bust drug trafficking.

Jasmin said police have managed to seize about 11kg of syabu in the first three months of 2023. – Bernama, March 27, 2023.