KUALA LUMPUR: Brunei authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle 102.19kg of syabu concealed in tea packets through the Sungai Tujoh Control Post at the Brunei-Miri border in Sarawak on Oct 31.
A 46-year-old foreigner was arrested in the operation, according to a joint statement by Brunei’s Royal Customs and Excise Department and Narcotics Control Bureau.
The suspect was detained while attempting to transport several boxes containing tea packets used to conceal the drugs in a vehicle.
A subsequent inspection uncovered five boxes containing 100 tea packets filled with syabu, weighing 102.19kg in total.
“This is the largest drug seizure ever recorded at the country’s control post.
“The drugs are estimated to be worth at least BND2.8 million (approximately RM8.88 million) based on Brunei’s local market value,” the statement said, as reported by Pelita Brunei.
Preliminary investigations by the Narcotics Control Bureau found that Brunei was believed to have been used as a transit route before the drugs were transported to another destination.
“The seized drugs are believed not to have been intended for the local market, while the suspect is suspected of having links to a drug trafficking network in a neighbouring country.
“The smuggling modus operandi also resembles previous cases detected in and outside Brunei,” it said.
Apart from the syabu, authorities also seized four Erimin 5 pills, RM1,180, S$10, BND10 and 500 baht in cash, two mobile phones and a vehicle believed to have been used in the operation.
The operation also received assistance from Malaysia’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) in efforts to combat cross-border drug smuggling.
The two Brunei agencies said the country must not be used as a transit route for drug smuggling.
They warned that stern action would be taken against any smuggling activities, whether Brunei was the final destination or merely a transit point.