Kota Kinabalu Police Seize RM7.99 Million Worth Of Meth Hidden In Perodua Alza During Op Bayu 9

KUALA LUMPUR,June,2026 – Police in Sabah seized 159.8 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine worth an estimated RM7.99 million during a series of raids under Op Bayu 9 around Kota Kinabalu on May 22. The operation also led to the arrest of two men and one woman.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the three suspects, aged between 18 and 49, were arrested following intelligence-led operations carried out by the Sabah Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.

According to police, the first suspect was detained at about 3.40pm near City Mall while carrying a box that contained nine packages of suspected syabu, weighing approximately 9.1 kilogrammes.

Following the first arrest, police conducted several follow-up raids at a house in Luyang, a hotel in the city and an apartment unit at Ashton Tower, Inanam. The raids led to the arrest of two more suspects and the seizure of another 68 packages of suspected syabu, weighing around 69.8 kilogrammes.

Police then inspected a Perodua Alza parked at the apartment complex and discovered another 79 packages of suspected syabu, weighing about 80.9 kilogrammes, hidden inside several compartments of the vehicle. The discovery brought the total drug seizure to 159.8 kilogrammes.

Jauteh said the seized drugs could have supplied an estimated 454,285 instances of drug consumption. Preliminary urine screening also found that one of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.

Police said all three suspects are Malaysian citizens and have no previous criminal records. Authorities also seized two Proton X50 vehicles believed to be linked to the case.

Based on initial police investigations, the drugs are believed to have been brought into Sabah through a port by hiding them inside vehicles shipped from Peninsular Malaysia. Police believe part of the drugs was meant for the local Sabah market, while the remainder was intended for overseas distribution.

The case has raised serious concerns about the use of vehicles as a concealment method for drug trafficking. The discovery of suspected methamphetamine inside compartments of a Perodua Alza suggests that syndicates may be using modified or hidden storage areas in ordinary vehicles to avoid detection during transportation.

The large quantity of drugs seized also highlights the scale of narcotics movement through Sabah. With a total estimated value of nearly RM8 million, the case is among the significant drug-related operations reported in the state this year.

Jauteh said the success of the operation was the result of continuous intelligence work and cooperation from the public. He stressed that the Royal Malaysia Police will not compromise with anyone involved in drug trafficking, including those who possess, traffic or protect drug-related activities.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.

The seizure under Op Bayu 9 reflects continued enforcement efforts by the Sabah police to combat drug trafficking networks operating across the state. It also underscores the importance of intelligence gathering, port monitoring and public cooperation in detecting large-scale drug movement.

For now, police are continuing investigations to determine the full network behind the seized drugs, including how the substances were transported, who financed the shipment and whether the syndicate had links to overseas distribution channels.