SANDAKAN – Authorities manning the roadblocks here have arrested drug dealers and cigarette smugglers in the course of their watch.
Some 155 people have been caught in Kinabatangan for the distribution and misuse of drugs.
Kinabatangan district police chief Dzulbaharin Ismail said the suspects were arrested under Section 39B, 39(A)(1), 12(2), and 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Kinabatangan police also caught three people attempting to enter the district under the “essential services” ticket on November 2 and 3.
They were found with 3,145 cartons of contraband cigarettes, estimated to be worth about RM150,000, hidden in their lorry and van.
The suspects are investigated under Section 135 (1) (d) of Customs Act 1967, which carries a punishment of a fine not less than 10 times the value of the smuggled items, or RM100,000, whichever is higher, or a maximum imprisonment of five years, or both if found guilty.
“The police have also conducted checks at the Kinabatangan-Tongod-Lahad Datu roadblocks and found road users with fake driver’s licenses, and vehicles exceeding load limits.”
Meanwhile, Eastern Sabah Security Command land operation chief staff M. Chandrasehkaran said an operation in Sandakan had arrested 14 individuals involved in drugs and cigarette smuggling.
He said 4.58g of methamphetamines, 46 cartons of cigarettes worth RM53,000, RM7,000 cash, a car and a motorcycle were seized along with the arrests. – The Vibes, November 5, 2020
