Customs officials showing the seized drugs
KOTA KINABALU: A teenager was among two suspected drug mules nabbed with over 20kg of drugs valued at around RM667,729.44 from two airports in the state recently.
The 18 and 29-year-old suspects were nabbed separately, one at the Tawau Airport and the other at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) on July 30.
State Customs assistant director-general Siti Mang said both suspects were nabbed when they were passing through the Customs checkpoint upon arrival at the airports from Kuala Lumpur.
They had arrived separately and were caught just 30 minutes apart, she said during a press conference here on Monday (Aug 5).
“In the first raid at around 12.30pm, a 29-year-old was detained when authorities detected suspicious-looking packages in his luggage at the Tawau Airport,” she said.
“Inspections found 10 packs of tea packets, and it was later discovered that inside were drugs with a total weight of around 10,199g and a market value of RM326,389,” Siti said.
A second suspect, who was using the same modus operandi, was detained at KKIA at around 1pm, she said.
Siti Mang.
The second suspect, who was a teenager, was also found carrying 10 packets of the illegal substance which weighed around 10,194g in total and had a market value of over RM341,340.
“We are investigating if these two suspects are linked to one another and if they are from the same syndicate,” said Siti.
Also being investigated is whether there is a bigger syndicate at play and whether more suspects are involved in this case, she added.
She said based on this recent arrest, they found that drug mules would bring the illegal items on carry-on luggages and bring them on board the planes.
The drugs would be packed in tea or beverage packets to confuse authorities, Siti said.
For these two cases, both suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the death sentence or life imprisonment, upon conviction.
She warned the public to refrain from getting involved in any form of illegal smuggling as such actions cost losses to the country and also threaten the security of the nation.
Those who have information on any illegal activities are urged to inform such suspicions to the Customs Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-8855, with a guarantee that informers or whistleblowers identities will be kept private and confidential, said Siti.
