SEMPORNA: A raid by a joint team from the state and district narcotics police busted a syabu den and arrested a Filipino at Kampung Bangau-Bangau here earlier this week.
Semporna District Police Chief Superintendent Tan Hiap Wah stated that the raid was carried out at about 2.30 am on March 9.
During the swoop, the narcotics policemen arrested a 26-year-old Filipino man and seized 5.01 grams of crystalline substances believed to be methamphetamine (syabu).
“The suspect has been detained and is being investigated under Section 39A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” Tan said.
Following the raid, police also conducted urine screening tests on two other Filipinos, aged 30 and 36, at the district Narcotics Crime Investigation Division office. Both individuals tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine and will be investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the same act, he added.
In a separate development, the Lahad Datu Marine Police (PPM) thwarted an attempt to syphon subsidised diesel at a petrol station in the district on March 10.
The operation, which began around 10.30 pm, was mounted based on information from the public. During surveillance, the marine police team spotted a man filling diesel into the original tank of a modified tanker lorry.
Upon inspection, police discovered that the lorry’s original tank had been illegally fitted with a pump and a hose, believed to be used for transferring the fuel into the vehicle’s main compartments. The suspect was found to be filling the tank with 9,000 litres of diesel, an amount that exceeded the permitted limit for the vehicle’s standard tank.
One man was arrested at the scene. The marine police team also seized the tanker lorry, the diesel, and the equipment used. The case will be referred to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Lahad Datu Office for further investigation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. The total value of the seizure is estimated at RM519,500. – James Leong
Tan stated that the raid was carried out at about 2.30 am on March 9.
