KOTA KINABALU: A cybercafé operator from Selangor was arrested as he allegedly tried to smuggle in some 5,000kg of syabu with a street value of RM350,000.

Tawau police chief Asst Comm Fadil Marsus said that the 46-year-old suspect was nabbed at Tawau Airport shortly after his arrival from Kuala Lumpur at 10.45am Saturday.

“We believe he is a drug mule,” he said on Saturday, adding that the suspect has a criminal record.

ACP Fadil said police are investigating the suspect’s local links and possible drug connections.

He said the arrest was made based on cooperation between the state Anti Narcotics unit and the Tawau CID.

He added that police found two boxes hidden among some clothes in a black bag belonging to the suspect.

“In one box, police found two packages wrapped in tinfoil and carbon paper, each containing a plastic packet of clear crystals suspected to be syabu,” ACP Fadil said.

“We also recovered more crystalline substance in the second box,’’ he added.

Police have remanded the suspect for seven days for their investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death sentence upon conviction.-thestar