Kota kinabalu: Police thwarted a drug smuggling operation, worth RM1.26 million, into Sabah using 'sasaban' (cutting board in the local language), in a raid in Penampang on Tuesday (Jan 6).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun stated that during the raid at 11.30 pm on a house in Taman Donggongon, officers and members from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) of the Sabah contingent police headquarters seized 39.5 kilogrammes of drugs and arrested two local men, aged 28 and 29 respectively.

The suspects' modus operandi involved concealing packages of methamphetamine or crystal meth in cutting boards, which were then transported into Sabah from Kuala Lumpur by sea via cargo shipment.

Jauteh detailed that public information led to the raid, during which 40 transparent plastic bags containing clear crystal chunks suspected to be methamphetamine or crystal meth were discovered hidden inside the cutting boards. These boards were split in half, hollowed out in the middle, and then closed again to avoid detection by authorities during routine inspections.

Further elaboration by Jauteh revealed that the two suspects, originating from Kuala Lumpur, were charged with collecting the items from the delivery company before distributing them to the local market. The suspects have been remanded until Jan 14 to assist with the investigation, which is being conducted under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.