Two suspected smugglers held over RM600,000 syabu

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KOTA KINABALU: Police have arrested two West Malaysian men who tried to smuggle two kilograms of drugs, believed to be syabu, worth RM600,000 into the state on Sunday.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the duo were arrested at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 2 when Immigration personnel found 10 plastic packets of white substance on the suspects who were carrying a couple of snack boxes in their hand luggage on arrival at 1.05pm from Johor.

Each suspect was carrying five plastic packets of the drugs, hidden in some snack boxes in their hand luggage covered with some clothing to prevent detection by Immigration personnel at the airport,?he said at a press conference at the State police headquarters in Kepayan here yesterday.

Also present were State Narcotics chief Superintendent Abdul Rahim Dolmat and Kota Kinabalu Narcotic Investigation chief ASP Ahmad Jawilah.

Hamza said the suspects were arrested after police a tip-off of their activity and continuous police investigation and surveillance.

Initial police investigation also showed the suspects had entered the state previously and police were investigating if they were involved in any drug syndicates, said Hamza.

He added that police also believed the drugs were smuggled into the country for the local market.

Both suspects, aged 21, have been remanded and the case would be investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking which carries the mandatory death penalty, if convicted.