Collin shows the seized items to the reporters at the press conference.
SIBU: Police here believe that they have busted a local drug syndicate, with the arrest of three men and a seizure of various items during an operation at Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg at about noon on Thursday.
District deputy police chief Supt Collin Babat said the Sibu Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division had also seized properties worth RM226,791 from the three suspects.
Acting on a tip-off, he said the police team, led by DSP Steeve Langie, had earlier arrested a man for suspected drug involvement in front of a courier service centre at Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg.
He said the suspect was carrying a plastic package labeled ‘refined Chinese Tea GUANYINWANG’ when he was apprehended.
Further investigation on the package revealed that it contained crystalline substance, suspected to be methamphetamine, weighing 1019.1g, said Collin during a press conference yesterday morning.
He said further interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two accomplices, both aged 24, in a hotel at Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce here.
Collin said the properties confiscated included two cars worth around RM165,000 from the suspects.
The other items seized included rings worth RM3,317, necklace worth RM20,833, a branded watch worth RM450, a gaming device worth RM2,000 and cash amounting to RM35,191.
It is believed that the syndicate has been using the courier service as its modus operandi to distribute drugs to the local market.
“They had just started their activities,’ he said.
Collin said the three suspects would be investigated under Section 39B of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides a death sentence upon conviction.
“One of the three suspects also had a previous drug offence,” he said.
The suspects would remain on remand until June 24.