RM3.2 million worth of drugs were found at KLIA

SEPANG: Approximately 30 kilogrammes of drugs valued at RM3.2 million were recently seized by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department during two operations at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA Terminal 2) and the KLIA cargo free zone.

In an operation on June 16, a 33-year-old local man was detained as he tried to check in a box at the counter at around 7.30 p.m., claiming it contained food. He was headed to a flight to Miri, Sarawak, according to Central Zone Customs assistant director-general Norlela Ismail.

“Inspection of the box found it contained 15 compressed white crystals suspected to be ketamine filled in tea packets.”After that, the packets are put inside food cartons marked “instant noodles.” The estimated value of the substance, which weighs approximately 15,181 kg, is RM760,000,” she stated during a press conference held here on Monday, July 1.

She claimed that the syndicate in question operated on the strategy of having passengers self-check their luggage.

On June 19, Customs officers carried out another operation in which they confiscated a courier package at the Cargo Free Zone area of the KLIA in Sepang. The shipment was identified as “Njoy Caramel Cubes”.

“Following an inspection, the package was found containing 15 thermoses labelled ‘Lavender 1000mL’ suspected to contain methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) pills weighing about 14,663 kg with a market value of RM2.5mil,” she stated.

According to her, the package came from a nation in Europe.

Section 39(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 is being probed in connection with the two cases, she said, adding, “We are checking with the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) the name of the company stated as the recipient of the package.”

In a related occurrence, Norlela said that last June, at the KLIA Terminal 1 here, the Customs Department detained a foreign individual who was trying to flee the country with RM572,563 in cash and SG$24,500 in his luggage.

“The traveller did not pledge the amount of cash to be taken out of Malaysia and the act is a breach of Regulation 55(1)(b) of the Customs Regulations 2019,” she stated. –Bernama