KLIA Remains a Hotspot for Drug Smuggling

SHAH ALAM: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) continues to be a major hub for large-scale international drug smuggling syndicates.

Most recently, police foiled an attempt to smuggle RM33.4 million worth of cannabis flowers to Europe via KLIA, seizing 418 kilogrammes (kg) of the drug in 10 separate cases.

The seizures, involving 671 plastic packages containing the drugs, also led to the arrest of 11 foreign nationals and a local middleman believed to be involved in the smuggling activities.

Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said all the arrests were made between Aug 28 and last Monday following investigations by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the KLIA District Police Headquarters (IPD), together with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) auxiliary police.

The foreign nationals arrested comprised four men and seven women aged between 17 and 62, who are believed to have been used as drug mules.

“Preliminary investigations found that their modus operandi was to enter the country as tourists using social visit passes. Before returning home, they were instructed to carry luggage that did not belong to them.

“This is one of the tactics used to recruit drug mules, where they are offered payment as well as fully sponsored travel packages in the country,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Shazeli said police also seized various other items during the arrests, including two vehicles – a Toyota Vios and a Perodua Alza – as well as RM37,700 in cash in various foreign currencies.

“Police checks found that none of the suspects had previous criminal records, while six of them have already been charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

“The remaining six are still under remand to assist in investigations, while the local man who acted as a runner was a drug supplier. However, he had no connection with the other nine syndicates,” he said.

All the suspects are believed to have been involved in the drug trafficking syndicates for the first time.

“The public is advised not to be lured by job offers that come with overseas travel packages, as they could ultimately find themselves being used as drug mules,” he said.

Utusan Malaysia