KUALA LUMPUR – A patron of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) was arrested last night on suspicion of being a leader in Sabah’s largest drug syndicate.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that he was one of the top 10 syndicate members apprehended during a special operation conducted by the Bukit Aman Narcotics Department to crack down on drug-related activities in the state.
“A special operation was launched by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) to crack down on one of the biggest drug syndicates in Sabah. Via this operation, several raids were made around Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Semporna.
“As a result, a total of 10 men who are leaders of the syndicate and their members were successfully detained.
“Probes found that one of the leaders, who is a 40-year-old businessman, was previously charged under Section 3(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1985. He was also nabbed in the operation.
“He was found to be patronising a Sabah NGO to conceal illegal activities,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman here today.
Ayob Khan said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).
Investigations revealed that the syndicate, which has been active since 2015, is the biggest drug syndicate in Sabah and has an international and local distribution network, he added.
The syndicate, Ayob Khan said, obtains meth supplies from neighbouring states in the peninsula to be distributed to markets throughout Sabah, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
“These drugs are then stored in Sabah before being distributed for use in entertainment centres in the state, before being smuggled to buyers in the Philippines and Indonesia,” he said.
He said the case was being investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 to forfeit the ownership of their properties.
“All the detainees are investigated under Section 130V of the Penal Code and Sosma as investigations carried out under Sosma will allow police to investigate the crime as a whole.
“Police also found that the syndicate members own various assets, including luxury cars, bungalows, 12 tourism businesses in the tourism, construction, petrochemical, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors, a ferry, and a restaurant.
“We will also be able to seize proceeds from these illegal activities owned by the syndicate members.
Others arrested in the raid include a 32-year-old site supervisor and a 45-year-old director of the restaurant chain, who are senior members of the syndicate. They are believed to manage the financial aspects of this syndicate.
A 34-year-old labourer who is the drug mule and two drug dealers aged 30 and 31 years old, respectively, who are also unemployed, were also arrested.
Also nabbed is a 48-year-old unemployed person who acts as an informant to monitor the activities of this drug syndicate.
He said a 44-year-old civil servant, a member of the enforcement agency believed to have played the role of a transporter for the syndicate, was also arrested. – December 26, 2023