BY GERALD GILLES
KUCHING: Approximately one kilogramme of ketamine has been seized by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department Sarawak during a raid on a courier company premises at Permy Technology Park, Miri.
Sarawak Customs acting director Mohd Nadzri Ariffin said this followed the arrest of a 44-year-old local man at 11.17 am last January 24.
He said the suspect went to the place and asked for a package suspected to contain drugs sent from abroad.
“Inside the package was a transparent plastic pack containing white powder believed to be ketamine-type drug.
“Also in the package was a packet of Juice Master (powdered form) inside the suspect’s duffel bag. It had been tested and found to be ketamine weing 28 grams,” he said at a press conference at Wisma Kastam Sarawak here today.
He added that the total value of the seizure was estimated at RM51,400.
The modus operandi of the syndicate, according to him, was to use inactive company names and addresses that did not exist to avoid detection. Courier services were also used to get drugs into Miri.
He said that ordinary people were also believed to be used as drug mules to get packages sent via courier services.
The case was being investigated under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 that covers the offence of distributing dangerous drugs. Upon conviction, the offender can be sentenced to death under Section 39B (2) of the same act.
