ISKANDAR PUTERI: A university student has been arrested here following a failed attempt to smuggle 1kg of cannabis from Thailand through courier services.
Customs Department deputy director-general Datuk Sazali Mohamad said that the department found 1,001 grams of cannabis in a parcel addressed to the suspect.
"The parcel was declared as containing a plastic drawer. However, upon inspection, we found the drugs worth about RM2,502 wrapped in transparent plastic.
"The suspect is a 21-year-old local student who was arrested at about 12.15pm on Thursday (Feb 9) at Taman Bukit Dahlia, Pasir Gudang to assist in investigations," he said.
He said this at a press conference at the Sungai Pulai Customs Enforcement Complex here on Thursday (Feb 23).
He added that the department is also on the lookout for the brother of the suspect who is also believed to be involved.
"We are now looking for the suspect's brother, who is a 24-year-old student. We believe that the drugs are for personal use or to be divided among the suspects' group of friends.
"Investigation are still ongoing but so far, there are no indications that the drugs are to be distributed to the local market," he said.
He said that the case is being investigated under Section 39B and Section 15 (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He also noted that there has been an increase in the use of courier services for smuggling drugs.
"It has become common for drugs to be smuggled through such courier services as it is seen as a way to hide from being detected by the authorities.
"In such cases, the items are falsely declared as something else as we see in this case where it was declared as plastic drawer," he said.
