Customs director-general Datuk Zazuli Johan (middle) and his team showing the seized drugs during the press conference.
NILAI: The Customs Department has crippled the activities of an international drug distribution syndicate with the seizure of 436.2kg of ecstasy.
The drug, estimated at RM32mil, was seized at KL International Airport Cargo Complex on Aug 29.
Customs director-general Datuk Zazuli Johan said this was the biggest seizure of illicit drugs at the international airport this year.
He said officers on duty conducted an inspection on 36 boxes around 6.30pm following a tip-off.
"Upon checking, they found colourful pills believed to be ecstasy, which contained the type 3 and 4 MDMA (methylenedioxy methamphetamine) drugs, in 12 boxes. The remaining 24 boxes contained only bricks," he told reporters at the Customs (Narcotics) headquarters in Kg Jijan near here.
Zazuli said the contents of the boxes have been declared as "tools" to hoodwink the authorities.
He said a preliminary investigation revealed that the drugs had arrived from the Netherlands. Malaysia was its final destination.
"We have not made any arrests as the information in the import documentation was fictitious," he added.
Zazuli said this was Custom's fifth drug seizure from the Netherlands at the cargo complex this year.
He said the seized drug could be used by more than 2.1mil addicts.
Zazuli said the case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He appealed to those with information on smuggling activities to contact the department at 1800-88-8855.
