CUSTOMS THWART ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE OVER ONE TONNE OF DRUGS WORTH NEARLY RM100 MLN

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Customs Department thwarted four attempts to smuggle over 1,000 kg of cannabis, valued at approximately RM98 million, in separate operations around the Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 recently.

KLIA Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad said the success came from the swift action of the department’s Enforcement Division, in collaboration with several other security agencies, including the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS).

He added that five local men have been arrested to assist with the investigation under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

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“These four cases involved attempts to smuggle cannabis overseas, particularly to the European market, using various tactics, including disguising the drugs as commercial goods,” he said in a statement today.

In the first case, on Oct 1, a local man was detained at KLIA Terminal 1 after being flagged for outstanding duties and taxes, prompting a baggage inspection that revealed 21.04 kg of cannabis worth around RM2.06 million.

“The suspect was recently charged in court,” he said.

Zulkifli said that in the second case on Sep 27, authorities intercepted 21 packages of drugs weighing 220.32 kg and valued at RM21.59 million in a courier truck at the KLIA export gate. The truck was entering the KLIA Free Zone for export to a European country.

In the third case on Sept 29 and 30, he said raids at two logistics warehouses in Shah Alam and Subang Jaya uncovered 52 boxes of drugs from four separate consignments, with a total weight of 464.58 kg and an estimated value of RM45.53 million.

Zulkifli said that in the fourth case on Oct 3, authorities seized 294.35 kg of cannabis, valued at RM28.85 million, at the KLIA Free Zone export gate. The drugs were being transported overseas in 28 packages via a courier truck.

He added that in the second to fourth cases, the syndicate is believed to have concealed the drugs in boxes labelled as premium towel brands, sealed in airtight plastic to evade detection by authorities.

“Four men, including courier truck drivers and the owners of the logistics warehouses, have been detained to assist with the investigation into the three cases,” he said.

-- BERNAMA