TAWAU: A former plantation worker suspected of being a runner transporting drugs from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau was arrested in an oil palm plantation area along Jalan Air Panas Tiku with 2.1kg of syabu, at 2.30pm, last Wednesday.
Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said the 54-year-old foreigner was believed to be waiting for a customer in the area when he was arrested in a raid.
He said preliminary investigation revealed the suspect had taken a bus from the State Capital to Tawau and was planning to use e-hailing services to carry out his activities (meeting customers) to avoid detection.
“The suspect was apprehended during a raid by a police team from the District Narcotics Crime Investigation Division (BSJN) after being seen acting suspiciously in the area,” he told a press conference at the Tawau District Police Headquarters (IPD), Tuesday.
He said further investigation revealed 2,101.50gm of drugs worth an estimated RM120,000 stored in two plastic packets marked “Guanyinwang”.
Jasmin said the seized drugs were brought into the district for the local market.
“We are investigating the suspect’s involvement in activities as a runner and tracing the drug trafficking network,” he said, adding the suspect has no prior criminal record and had tested negative for drugs.
The suspect is currently being remanded until March 6 for further investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking.
