Lukas (centre) shows the seized drugs to the press.
KUCHING: Two African nationals were among three persons detained during two separate raids by police which netted over 1.2kg of syabu worth more than RM350,000.
State Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) chief Supt Lukas Aket said the African suspects, one of whom claimed to be a student here, were nabbed after police stopped their car at Jalan Canna around midnight yesterday.
“The suspects, aged 28 and 29 years, were stopped while driving a Perodua Kancil car at 12.05am today (yesterday) following a tip-off.
“A search uncovered 251.30 grammes of syabu worth RM70,364 hidden in the vehicle, some of which were concealed inside a disposable adult diaper,” Lukas told a press conference held at state police headquarters here yesterday.
The disposable adult diaper, used to conceal the drugs, which was seized from the two African nationals.
Both foreigners have been placed under remand to facilitate further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Lukas went on to reveal the arrest of a local man during a separate raid at Jalan Song, which netted slightly over one kilogramme of syabu worth about RM285,600.
The arrest took place around 9am Monday when police detained the 46-year-old suspect shortly after he picked up a box from a courier service facility.
“A check of the box, which contained various packages of food, beverages and supplements, found a package containing the drugs hidden amongst them.
“This is the second time in as many months that an attempt to smuggle drugs into the state via courier service was uncovered,” he said, adding that although the boxes sent in both instances originated from Kuala Lumpur, police were still investigating if the two cases were linked to one another.
The local suspect has since been remanded for seven days to facilitate further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
When asked, the state NCID chief said all three men did not possess any prior criminal record, although the local suspect tested positive for amphetamine.
“We thank the public for information which led to the arrests, and implore for more such tip-offs which can help us eradicate the drug menace in the state,” he said.