JOHOR BARU: A routine check of a cargo container, where the contents were declared as frozen shrimp at a local port here, netted some RM12mil in drugs, says the Johor Customs department.
It's director Amizul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimin said that based on intelligence, they detained a 40-foot container and seized 62 plastic packets with white power believed to be cocaine at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas at 11.15am on Oct 1.
"The container had some 19 tonnes of shrimp which came from India and was in transit to Maimi in the United States," he said during a press conference here.
He added that the drugs were hidden inside an aircon compressor of the container.
Asked about arrests, he only said that investigations were still underway and they were liaising with their foreign counterparts with regards to the case.
Aminul Izmeer said investigations were being carried out under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He urged those with information on smuggling activities to contact the Customs hotline at 1-800-88-8855.
This is the third major case involving PTP since last year.
In May, customs detained a similar container and seized RM10.3mil cocaine inside a container declared as onions from China
In December, another container was detained with RM10mil worth of drugs inside the container's aircon compressor.
The drugs together with frozen seafood were heading to China from South America.
MORE TO COME
