TUMPAT: The Kelantan branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department has foiled a drug smuggling attempt involving more than 58kg of cannabis worth over RM180,000.
The seizure was made during Phase 3 of the LYNX South-East Asia operation at the Rantau Panjang Duty-Free Zone in Pasir Mas.
Acting state Customs director Dr Ishak Ismail said the seizure was made at around 5.30am on Jan 25, after an Enforcement Branch team at Pengkalan Kubor acted on a public tip-off about smuggling activities in the border area.
"Customs officers detected a car left in the parking area of the Jalan Besar Duty-Free Zone, Kampung Rantau Panjang.
"With the assistance of a sniffer dog from the Rantau Panjang Narcotics Enforcement Unit, we found 58.865kg of compressed cannabis hidden inside bundles of used clothing," he told a press conference at the Pengkalan Kubor Enforcement Office here on Monday (Feb 9).
Preliminary investigations indicate that the syndicate used rental vehicles to transport the drugs, which were then concealed among used clothing to avoid detection, he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane if convicted. – Bernama
