Cops make million-ringgit cocaine bust at KLIA

KUALA LUMPUR: A man was caught with RM1mil worth of cocaine in the first big haul of the drug so far this year.

The 22-year-old man, supposedly a drug mule for an African cartel, had just landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Africa when a team of Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) and Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) officers picked him up at around 6pm on Friday.

STING deputy commander Senior Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said the bust was made following a tip-off from their counterparts in Togo.

"The 3.8kg of drugs were hidden in tins and disguised as chocolates carried by the man in a backpack.

"The man, a labourer, is believed to have been transporting the drugs to a neighbouring country as there is no market for cocaine in Malaysia," he told a press conference at Bukit Aman on Monday.

He said the seizure of cocaine in Malaysia is rare, compared to other types of drugs like syabu and marijuana.

"In 2015 and 2016 respectively, 6.7kg and 9.23kg were seized," he said.

He added that credit for the arrest was due to the close working relationship of the Royal Malaysian Police has with its counterparts all over the world, especially in the war against drugs.