KOTA KINABALU, Feb. 13 -- Authorities here seized a record of more than three tonnes of narcotics worth over RM170 million and the arrest of eight suspects in a series of coordinated raids beginning January 20.

Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the operation - codenamed Ops Coleoptera and Ops Bayu 2 - uncovered an international syndicate that used cargo containers declared as machinery and transported via sea routes from Port Klang as the main transit point into Sabah.

The integrated operation was led by Bukit Aman's Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department with support from Sabah police, Customs Department and Port Authority.

The first raid on January 20 was at a house in Taman Landmark Phase 2, Penampa...