Cannabis flowers worth RM2.57 mln found in unclaimed parcels during Miri Customs drug bust
Norizan (centre), Sargandang (second right) and others show the seized cannabis flowers. – Photo by Jenifer Laeng
MIRI (June 11): The Customs Department has seized RM2.578 million worth of cannabis flowers following the inspection of five unclaimed parcels at a courier company premises here last month — marking the department's first seizure involving cannabis in flower form, which is believed to fetch a higher street value than compressed cannabis.
Sarawak Customs director Norizan Yahya said on May 13 at around 9.30am, acting on intelligence from the Air Cargo Unit of the Miri Customs branch, a Customs Miri Narcotics Unit team inspected five unclaimed boxes at a local courier company located along Jalan Miri Bypass.
'The check was carried out after no one stepped forward to claim the parcels. Upon inspection, the team uncovered 98 transparent plastic packages suspected to contain cannabis, with a total gross weight of 26.313kg,' he said during a press conference here today.
Norizan said the parcels were falsely declared as containing clothing in an attempt to mislead authorities.
According to him, preliminary investigations indicate the drugs were likely destined for the Indonesian market.
'We suspect the drugs were to be smuggled out of the country, possibly via illegal routes,' he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Norizan also revealed that this seizure marks the 14th drug-related case recorded by the department in Miri District this year, bringing the total value of confiscated drugs to RM6.89 million.
'A total of 10 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with these seizures,' he said.
He urged the public to continue sharing information on drug activities by contacting the department via its hotline at 1-800-88-8855.
Also present at the press conference was Miri Customs head Sargandang Liman. cannabis flowers Customs Department drugs lead miri
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