PUTRAJAYA: Attempts to smuggle over one tonne of cannabis abroad, particularly to Europe, have been foiled by the Customs Department through several operations around the Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1.
KLIA Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad said the drugs were valued at about RM98mil and that five local men have been arrested to assist with the investigation under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“These four cases involved attempts to smuggle cannabis overseas, particularly to the European market, using various tactics, including disguising the drugs as commercial goods,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He attributed the success to the department’s Enforcement Division and the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), Bernama reported.
In the first case, a local man was detained at KLIA Terminal 1 on Oct 1 after being flagged for outstanding duties and taxes, prompting a baggage inspection that revealed 21.04kg of cannabis worth around RM2.06mil, he said.
“The suspect was recently charged in court,” he added.
Zulkifli said that in the second case on Sept 27, authorities intercepted 21 packages of drugs weighing 220.32kg and valued at RM21.59mil in a courier truck at the KLIA export gate.
The truck was entering the KLIA Free Zone for export to a European country, he said.
In the third case on Sept 29 and 30, he said raids at two logistics warehouses in Shah Alam and Subang Jaya uncovered 52 boxes of drugs from four separate consignments, with a total weight of 464.58kg and estimated value of RM45.53mil.
Zulkifli said that in the fourth case on Oct 3, authorities seized 294.35kg of cannabis, valued at RM28.85mil, at the KLIA Free Zone export gate.
The drugs were being transported overseas in 28 packages via a courier truck.
He added that in the second to fourth cases, the syndicate is believed to have concealed the drugs in boxes labelled as premium towel brands, sealed in airtight plastic to evade detection by authorities.
“Four men, including courier truck drivers and the owners of the logistics warehouses, have been detained to assist the investigations,” he said.
