Cops gatecrash party in Tawau, arrest 23

KOTA KINABALU: Police here gatecrashed a party in a high-end residential area here on Tuesday morning (June 30) and detained a group of 23 people, 19 of whom later tested positive for drugs.

It is learnt that the police received a tip-off about the large group of party-goers from the neighbours.

Tawau OCPD Asst Comm Peter Umbuas said the suspects, aged between 21 and 34, were nabbed at Taman Nordin at about 8.30am on Tuesday.

“Our narcotics unit raided the house and found the suspects, including eight women, to be in suspicious conditions, ” he said in a statement Thursday (July 2).

He said no illegal substances were found on the individuals, who included three Indonesians, but they did not practise social distancing.

“All were asked to undergo drug tests, out of which 19 – 11 men and eight women – tested positive, ” ACP Umbuas said.

All of the suspects have been detained to facilitate investigations.

He said the suspects would be probed for various offences including under the Dangerous Drugs Act, Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act and Immigration Act.

ACP Umbuas reminded the public to continue practising social distancing and to adhere to strict regulations under the recovery movement control order (MCO). - Star