KUALA LUMPUR: Attractive job offers promising “lucrative” paydays are emerging as new tactics employed by drug syndicates on social media platforms to recruit drug mules, particularly from the younger generation.
They are targeting mainly teenagers and those under 40 with the promise of “easy money” and luxurious perks.
It is learnt that the syndicates often select individuals who appear unlikely to arouse suspicion, are easily influenced or are in desperate financial situations.
“Both men and women have fallen prey, but recent trends show that syndicates have adopted more creative and deceptive tactics,” Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan (pic) told The Star recently.
“Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook are being used to entice victims with offers of quick cash, free holidays and high-paying delivery jobs,” said the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director.
The most vulnerable groups include university students, gig workers, such as e-hailing drivers, the unemployed, tourism sector workers and individuals facing severe financial problems, he said.
“Education level has not proven to be a determining factor, as most victims share similar socioeconomic pressures,” he said.
Between January and September this year, more than 50 Malaysians were nabbed overseas for allegedly acting as drug mules, Comm Hussein said.
“There were 50 men and five women who were detained in various countries, including Cambodia (six people), Indonesia (10), Singapore (nine), Thailand (five), three each in Belgium, Laos and Macau, and one each in the Philippines, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Myanmar and Norway,” he said.
The modus operandi has evolved far beyond just hiding drugs in luggage, Comm Hussein explained.
“Newer tactics include swallowing drug capsules (body packing), strapping packets of drugs to the body, and concealing narcotics in personal items such as shoes, belts or power banks.
“There is also an increase in the number of cases involving victims being duped into accepting courier parcels or checking in luggage that belonged to strangers or online acquaintances.
“Believing that they were undertaking legitimate high-paying delivery jobs, many of the victims were unaware they were carrying drugs until they were detained by foreign authorities,” he added.
In Malaysia, Comm Hussein reported that 45 individuals have been detained as drug mules since 2022.
They comprised three Malaysians and a Thai national in 2022, five Malaysians and a Thai national in 2023, and nine Malaysians, three from the Maldives, and one each from Indonesia and Peru last year.
“As of September this year, 21 individuals have been detained, comprising 16 Malaysians, two from the Maldives and one each from Indonesia, Sierra Leone and Britain,” he said.
Comm Hussein added that drugs worth millions of ringgit transported by drug mules have been seized since 2022, including 291kg of methamphetamine, 16.6kg of cocaine and 31.4kg of cannabis.
“We have increased surveillance at all major entry points and enhanced cooperation with our foreign counterparts to curb the drug mule problem.
“The drug mules detained in Malaysia were apprehended as they were entering or leaving the country,” he added.
Comm Hussein said the most common drugs trafficked by Malaysian mules are syabu, followed by heroin, ketamine and cocaine.
“We advise the public to always be wary of dubious job offers, especially those advertised on social media sites,” he said, and advised those with information on any drug-related activities to contact the NCID hotline at 012- 208 7222.
