JOHOR BARU: The Johor Customs Department foiled an attempt to smuggle 51kg of drugs, believed to be cocaine worth RM10.3mil, during an inspection at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Iskandar Puteri.
State Customs director Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi said the drugs were seized at the Customs inspection bay at 2.45pm on May 15.
“Our narcotics branch seized a 40ft container declared as holding fresh onions on the manifest transshipment and bill of lading.
“Inspection of the container found the fresh onions, along with 50 packages hidden inside the air-conditioning compressor.
“(The packages contained) a compressed white powder believed to be cocaine,” he told a press conference at Menara Kastam Johor here on Monday (May 27).
Aminul Izmeer added that this was the first time the department seized such a large amount of cocaine.
“The container was shipped from China... to be sent to a company in Kuching, Sarawak,” he said, adding that an investigation is ongoing to identify the owner of the shipment.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking.
