Mohd Zaidi (centre) and a policeman showing the drugs that were packed inside Chinese tea packs.
KOTA KINABALU: A local businessman who owns a shop in Suria Inanam, was arrested by police for trafficking 3,019.28 grams of syabu on Thursday.
Also arrested in the 2.40pm operation was the alleged drug syndicate middleman at an open area in Suria Inanam on July 1.
Kota Kinabalu police chief ACP Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said the raid was carried out by narcotic police from the Kota Kinabalu police contingent (IPD KK) after a month of police surveillance.
“Both suspects were seen making a transaction which prompted police to move in immediately.
“Police seized a bag from one of the suspects and upon inspection found three Chinese tea packets, with each packet containing a plastic packet of crystal substance believed to be syabu.
“All three plastic packets were seized and revealed to be syabu with a total weight of 3,019.28 grams,” said Mohd Zaidi, adding that the three packets of drugs could fetch a market price of RM100,000.
Mohd Zaidi added that one of the suspects actually owns a shop in Suria Inanam and police investigation revealed both suspects had met several times prior to the arrest.
“Investigation believed the 3,019.28 grams of drugs could supply up to 15,000 drug addicts in the state capital,” he said, adding that the drugs were for the local market and were smuggled from the Peninsular.
Police have also seized two four-wheel-drive vehicles, a couple of watches and jewellery worth a total of RM600,000 from both suspects.
Mohd Zaidi added that police believed the suspects were part of a drug syndicate and had been active for a couple of months.
Both suspects, in their 30s, have been remanded for a week to facilitate investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty if found guilty.