TAWAU: The tactic of a foreigner who tried to hide 4kg of drugs in soap powder plastics failed when he was arrested by the police at around 12.30 pm at the Tawau Port Jetty, here, Monday.
Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said the 25-year-old Indonesian labourer was said to be travelling from Kinabatangan to Tawau and believed to be bringing the drugs, estimated to be worth RM274,320, to a neighbouring country through the jetty.
He said the arrest was made by a police team from the Tawau District Police Headquarters (IPD) following a tip-off and managed to track down the suspect who was carrying four barrels of soap powder.
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Jasmin said a check on the suspect found that he did not have any past criminal record and his urine test was also found to be negative for drugs.
He said the suspect is remanded for seven days until June 4 for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The police are also still conducting further intelligence to detect the syndicate involved in the case, he added.
Commenting further, Jasmin said the suspect’s modus operandi of putting drugs in soap powder plastics before filling it in the barrel was the latest trend because previously criminals only used barrels.
“Police will increase the inspection of luggage and barrels at the Tawau Port Jetty, and may even have to use detection dogs in our efforts to crack down on drug trafficking activities in the district,” he said.
He said this is because if the latest case is not investigated, the drug may not be detected when the drug is hidden in the soap powder plastic with the soap powder still inside.
Jasmin also said that as of January until now, the Tawau police have seized 19.5 kg of drugs and the fight against drugs will continue to be intensified from time to time.
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