KOTA KINABALU: Drug shipments disguised as packets of tea continue to enter Sabah via courier services, with the latest discovery involving over 20kg of methamphetamine worth RM649,440.
The find was made on Friday (Aug 30) when a package labelled "general parcel" arrived at the Kota Kinabalu air cargo depot.
State Customs assistant director-general Siti Mang said the parcel was inspected when their scanner detected suspicious items inside.
“We found 20 packets of 'tea' which were filled with methamphetamine,” she told a press conference here on Wednesday (Sept 4).
“We have trained personnel at screening machines and K9 units on standby to detect any wrongdoings,” she said, adding that this method of smuggling drugs seemed to be a preferred modus operandi at the moment.
She said investigators are trying to find out if a larger syndicate is involved and to track down the culprits.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
Siti urged the public to cooperate with and help the authorities fight crime, and to refrain from illegal activities that pose security threats, cause the country losses and affect the community's well-being.
She said informants' identities would be kept confidential, so there was no need to fear coming forward.
Asked if Sabah could just be a transit point in a drug smuggling network, Siti said no possibility had been ruled out for now.
She said Customs was working with various state and federal agencies on the case
She also noted that the parcel's point of origin was in Peninsular Malaysia, and it was addressed to a nonexistent location here.
On July 30, three people including a teenager were apprehended at Tawau Airport and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) while passing through the Customs checkpoint after arriving from Kuala Lumpur.
Over 20kg of drugs valued at RM667,729.44 were confiscated.
