JKDM FOILS RM1.86 MILLION DRUG SMUGGLING ATTEMPTS AT KLIA

SEPANG, March 24 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Central Zone III at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) foiled seven drug smuggling attempts worth an estimated RM1.86 million in the first two months of this year.

Central Zone acting assistant director-general Dr Ahmad Taufik Sulaiman said the first three cases involved a joint raid by the enforcement division and the Customs Headquarters Narcotics Branch on Jan 24 at a mailbox area in Cyberjaya.

This led to the arrest of a suspect and the seizure of a parcel containing tom yum paste cans filled with cannabis.

A follow-up raid in Cyberjaya resulted in the arrest of two more suspects at a condominium believed to be used for processing and storing cannabis.

The total amount of cannabis seized in these three cases was approximately 10.5 kilograms (kg), valued at RM32,027.55.

In the fourth and fifth cases on Feb 25 and 27, baggage scans of two travellers at KLIA Terminal 1 revealed cannabis concealed in airtight plastic bags. Authorities seized 28 kg of cannabis worth RM844,290.

The sixth case on Feb 27 involved a traveller preparing to fly to Kuching, Sarawak, at KLIA Terminal 2. Customs officers found 26 kg of methamphetamine worth RM824,034.60 in the suspect's luggage.

In the seventh case on March 2, two individuals were detained at the KLIA Terminal 1 international departure gate after their luggage was found to contain 5 kg of methamphetamine valued at RM160,000.

Dr Ahmad Taufik said all the suspects are being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed.

-- BERNAMA