Sandakan Customs seize 102.99 kilograms of methamphetamine

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The 102.99 kilograms Methamphetamine confiscated by Customs Department.

 

SANDAKAN : Sandakan Customs Department here has confiscated 102.99 kilograms of Methamphetamine with estimated value of RM5.66 million from five local male suspects.

Director General of Customs Department Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Subromaniam Tholasy said the five suspects aged 19 to 26 year old were arrested upon arrival at the Sandakan Airport around 9.35am on February 27.

“During the incident, a team of Customs officers from the Passenger Inspection Branch, were inspecting on passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur at Sandakan Airport via an AirAsia flight.

“From the result of observation and risk assessment on the flight passengers, Customs officers have suspected a group of five men carrying a luggage each.

“The Customs officer had scans on every luggage carried by the five men and found suspicious images on the luggage at the inspection and screening counter. All the five suspects tried to escape through the exit near to the scanner but managed to be arrested by Customs officers,” he told a press conference today.

He said the 102.99 kilograms Methamphetamine were divided and packed into small plastic packets covered with foil papers in effort to obscure the authorities.

Subromaniam said the arrest was the second case this year by the Sabah Customs Department involving drug smuggling attempts via air mode at the airports in Sabah.

All suspects were remanded 12 days from the date of arrest and the case is being investigated under Section 39B, Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries death penalty upon convicted.

Meanwhile, Subromaniam urged public to give cooperation to Customs Department by channeling information related smuggling activities involving drugs, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages or firecrackers.

Public may call Customs Hotline at 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs Office around the state. Identity of each informant will be kept confidential.

Also present at the press conference was Sabah Director of Customs Department Datuk Hamzah Sundang.