Stanley (second right) shows reporters the drug seized from the 25-year-old suspect during the press conference.
The suspect (left) being led to Miri Central Police Station.
MIRI: The Narcotic Police here foiled an attempt to smuggle drug through Miri Airport with the arrest of a 25-year-old man at 9pm Monday.
The suspect, a Penangite who works here as a technician, was arrested with drugs worth RM13,800 at the airport while trying to board a plane to Kuching.
Acting police chief Supt Stanley Jonathan Ringgit told a press conference here yesterday that the man was arrested by narcotic police officers after they suspected him to be involved in drug activities.
“The suspect was supposed to board a plane to Kuching first and then to Penang.
“He had two suitcases and a sling bag with him. The police took him to the police station here for further check.
“The suspect willingly showed the police one of the suitcases which contained a plastic packet with Ecstasy pills inside three smaller packets. The three smaller plastic packets contained 110 blue pills, 50 grey pills and 50 chocolate-coloured pills worth RM10,500 at market price,” Stanley said, adding the suspect was also tested positive for abusing Amphetamine.
Further interrogation of the suspect led the police to check on his rented house at Taman Lopeng Jaya about 1.20am yesterday.
There, the police found a cigarette box containing crystalline substance believed to be Syabu weighing 9.45g with a street value of RM3,300.
The suspect was remanded for seven days to facilitate police investigation and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of Dangerous Drug Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
He is also investigated under Section 39A (1) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 which carries life imprisonment and not less than 10 strokes of the cane if found guilty.
Stanley said the police here believed that the suspect was a member of a drug syndicate targeting smaller airports like Miri Airport as transit for drug smuggling activities.
He said the police would continue to monitor the situation and take extra measures to strengthen security at the airport.
This is the second drug haul at Miri Airport in six month.
In December last year, a 21-year-old youth was arrested with six suitcases of Syabu weighing 115.8kg at the same airport.
It was the biggest drug haul in Sarawak’s history with the drugs estimated to be worth RM21 million.