S'wak police cripple major syndicate, seize over RM8.5 million in drugs and assets
He said the raids, carried out by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division (NCID) of the Sibu District Police Headquarters, targeted a business premises in Pusat Pedada and two terrace houses in Lorong Permai Jaya.
'We seized 7,086.7 grams of methamphetamine, 2,078.9 grams of ketamine, and 2,022.6 grams of Erimin 5 pills, with a total estimated street value of RM532,934.40,' he said at a press conference, describing the operation as a major success in the fight against drug trafficking in the state.
A 52-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman were arrested in the operation.
Police also seized assets worth RM7,997,450, marking the largest asset seizure in Sarawak to date, confiscating RM5,157,450 in cash, four gold bars, two gold chains, three Rolex watches, as well as a Lexus RX350F Sport, a Lexus ES250 and a Toyota Vios vehicle.
'This brings the total value of seized drugs and assets to RM8,530,384.40,' said Mancha.
Initial investigations found both suspects were key figures in the syndicate, which has been active since 2015, believed to have sourced drugs from Peninsular Malaysia via courier services for trafficking across Sibu.
Both suspects tested negative for drugs and neither has a prior criminal record. They have been remanded for seven days from June 13 to 20 to assist in the investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death.
Mancha said the NCID is actively tracking down remaining members of the syndicate to dismantle the entire operation.
He urged the public to come forward with any information by contacting the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222.
Also present at the press conference were Sarawak NCID chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah and Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Four men arrested in Kuching drug raids, nearly 3kg of narcotics seized
KUCHING (July 6): Police have arrested four local men, aged between 28 and 35, for suspected drug trafficking in three separate raids conducted here last week. Kuching district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the first suspect, aged 30, was arrested on July 3 during a raid by the a team from Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) Sarawak at a house in Jalan Upper Chawan. 'Police seized about 2,209.73g of drugs believed to be ecstacy, with an estimated value of RM2,209.73,' he said in a statement yesterday. Alexson added that the suspect, who tested positive for benzo, had no prior drug-related criminal records. Regarding the second and third cases, Alexson said the raids were carried out on July 4 at two separate locations, namely a house in Taman Hussein at around 4 PM and another in Kampung Lintang about an hour later. 'At the house in Taman Hussein, police arrested two local men, aged 33 and 35 and confiscated 227.33g of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis (ganja), estimated to worth RM1,550 'Both suspects tested positive for THC and had no prior drug-related criminal records,' he said. Alexson said at the house in Kampung Lintang, police arrested a 28-year-old local man and seized 541g of dried leaves also believed to be cannabis (ganja), with an estimated value of RM3,800. 'The suspect also tested positive for THC and had no prior drug-related criminal records,' he added. Alexson said all four suspects have been remanded until July 11 for investigation under Section 38B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and not less than 12 strokes of whipping if not sentenced to death.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Ex-rep turns the tables on deepfake scam ring
PETALING JAYA: With the faces of popular figures appearing in deepfake videos promoting investment scams, a former state assemblyman has deliberately stepped into the trap to expose the syndicate's tactics. Former Pasir Pinji assemblyman Datuk Chan Kam said he recently discovered that AI-generated scam videos were widely circulating on social media. 'I decided to click on one of them and enter my contact details to see what would happen. 'Soon after, I received a phone call from someone inviting me to invest in a plan. 'The caller said if I chip in US$250 (RM1,100), I could receive a return of between RM5,000 and RM20,000,' he told a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong yesterday. Chan said after transferring the money into a bank account, the scammer kept updating him daily on his supposed investment status while persuading him to invest further. But he stopped just there. Cause for concern: Chong speaking on the rise of AI-powered cheating cases in Malaysia during a press conference at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. Looking on is Chan (centre). — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star 'Obviously, the money is gone,' he said, adding that the fund was pooled by himself, Chong, and several members of the Crime Prevention Foundation and the Malaysia-China Friendship and Mutual Aid Association. Chan said he had gathered the relevant evidence and planned to lodge a police report. 'I hope that by sharing my story, more people will be cautious and not fall for these scams,' he said. Chong said deepfake videos featuring celebrities, politicians, high-ranking civil servants and prominent businessmen endorsing investment scams are increasingly being used to deceive unsuspecting investors. He cited one particularly absurd clip showing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaking in English with a Tamil accent. 'It's ridiculous. Remember, there is no such thing as easy money. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is fake,' he added. Sharing police statistics, Chong said a total of 13,956 scam cases involving RM2.11bil were reported last year, with 85% of victims lured through social media. Also present were lawyer James Ee Kah Fuk, Perak Malaysia-China Friendship and Mutual Aid Association chairman Chuah Ai Ngor, and Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief Yuen Zhan How.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Senior exec in Bintulu loses RM600,000 in online investment scam
Photo for illustration purposes only. — Photo by Thallen Merlin/Pexels BINTULU (July 5): A senior company executive in his 60s has fallen victim to an online investment scam, suffering losses amounting to approximately RM600,000, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata. He said the victim lodged a police report after realising he had been duped by a fraudulent investment scheme that began in early March this year. 'The victim, while at home, came across an online advertisement promoting a foreign currency investment opportunity, purportedly linked to an established financial institution,' Mancha said in a statement yesterday. Upon clicking the link, the victim was contacted by an individual claiming to represent JP Morgan. The suspect instructed the victim to download an application via a provided link and guided him through the process of investing via what appeared to be a legitimate platform. 'Over a period of time, the victim made several transactions totalling about RM600,000 into various bank accounts supplied by the suspect,' Mancha said. The scam came to light when the suspect repeatedly requested additional payments, claiming they were necessary to release the investment returns. Suspicious of the continuous demands, the victim eventually realised he had been scammed. To date, the victim has only managed to recover RM441 from the so-called investment. Mancha urged the public to exercise caution when encountering investment opportunities online, especially those promoted through unsolicited links or messages. 'Do not be easily influenced by investment offers advertised on social media or unfamiliar websites. Always conduct background checks and verify the legitimacy of the company or platform before making any financial commitment,' he advised. He encouraged the public to utilise tools such as the Whoscall mobile application available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store to screen unknown calls and reduce exposure to scam-related risks. Mancha also advised the public to check the status of any investment company or website via the official portals of Bank Negara Malaysia ( BNM Telelink: 1-300-88-5465) or the Securities Commission Malaysia ( tel: 03-6204 8999). 'For individuals who have just made a transaction to a suspected scam account or e-wallet, it is critical to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via the 997 hotline,' he added. The case is currently under investigation.
