KUCHING: A lecturer of a private university was arrested for drug trafficking after he was found in possession of over two kilogrammes of cannabis on Monday.
Sarawak Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) head Supt Sahar Abdul Latif in a statement yesterday said the 36-year-old, who also serves as an IT officer at the same university, was caught shortly after he had collected a parcel from a courier service centre at Jalan Song.
“A body inspection conducted did not find any illegal substance. Following an inspection of his vehicle, we found two blocks of compressed dried leaves believed to be cannabis. The suspect was then taken to NCID headquarters where an inspection of the parcel he had collected found it to contain another block of compressed dried leaves, also believed to be cannabis,” he said.
He added later the same day, the suspect led police to a female toilet at the university where more cannabis was found hidden in the ceiling.
“The police team seized a box which contained a block of cannabis, as well as a goodie bag which held two blocks of cannabis, a digital weighing scale, plastic wrapper and a utility knife.”
Sahar disclosed that the seized drugs weighed a total of 2.24kg, and had an estimated street value of RM22,300.
He said the suspect, who did not possess any prior criminal record, had also tested positive for cannabis and methamphetamine and has been remanded for seven days until Aug 28 for further investigation. Initial investigation revealed the lecturer had been actively selling drugs since the middle of this year, and had been addicted to drugs since 2010, he added.
Police have classified the case under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking in drugs, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction, as well as Section 15(1)(a) of the same Act for drug consumption which carries a fine and jail term not exceeding two years.