Azlan Othman

Sarawak police have smashed an international drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of seven suspects and seizure of drugs worth about RM1 million in Miri, Sarawak.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said the suspects, aged between 21 and 39, were picked up in raids on three locations between 3.45am and 5.40am on Wednesday. Initial investigations showed that the syndicate supplied drugs to the Brunei Darussalam and Indonesian markets, he added.

The suspects, all unemployed, comprised four men and three women – one an Indonesian, he told Malaysian newspapers.

“The drugs seized were 9kg of syabu, 349g of ketamine powder, 449g of ecstasy powder, 16,250 ecstasy pills and 2,250 erimin 5 pills,” he added.

Ramli said police also seized two cars worth a total of RM105,000.

He said the syndicate is believed to have been distributing drugs to the local and overseas markets for a year. “The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for death sentence or life jail term,” he said.

He said Sarawak police would continue with their crackdown on drug distribution, especially at entertainment centres. He urged the public to contact the police if they have information on drug activities.