Miri: Police have arrested two members of a drug syndicate, including a leader, and seized RM820,000 in cash through Op Coleoptera in separate raids conducted on May 2 in Miri, Sarawak. Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the first suspect, a 34-year-old local man believed to be the syndicate leader, was arrested during a raid at a house in Krokop, Miri, where police also seized RM590,000 in cash.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the second suspect is a 50-year-old local man who acted as a transporter. He was arrested in a raid at a house in Jalan Palmaedar, Miri, where RM230,000 in cash was also found, he told a press conference at the Tawau Police Headquarters today. Hussein said both suspects were remanded for seven days beginning May 3. Background checks revealed that the first suspect had five criminal records, including one drug-related offence, while the second suspect also had five criminal records.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the punishment of death by hanging or life imprisonment and not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction. Authorities also initiated action under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, with the total value of assets seized amounting to RM2.42 million.

Hussein said the syndicate is believed to have been active since June last year, using drug mules, courier services and shipping containers via sea routes before distributing drugs to markets in Sabah, Sarawak and abroad. He added that Op Coleoptera was launched on Jan 20 to track down the syndicate's key suspects and members who were still actively involved in drug trafficking activities.

On Feb 13, police conducting Op Coleoptera seized various types of drugs worth RM174 million in seven raids carried out in Penampang, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Teluk Sepanggar Port and Port Klang, leading to the arrest of eight suspects aged between 23 and 45, including two women.