KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 50 suspected drug mules at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from last year up to April this year, with Malaysians accounting for the largest group at 19.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said 25 suspects were arrested last year: 12 Malaysians, five Taiwanese, three British, three Maldivians and two Indonesians.
This year, up to April, another 25 suspects were detained: seven Malaysians, five Britons, four Singaporeans, three French nationals, two Indonesians and one each from Hong Kong, Thailand, Slovakia and Ireland.
Comm Hussein said police had detected new tactics used by international drug syndicates, including making last-minute flight bookings for drug mules or scheduling flights during peak hours at KLIA to evade detection.
He said syndicates also lured victims with fake job offers, free holiday packages and lucrative financial rewards before persuading them to carry items without knowing they contained drugs.
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In other cases, narcotics were concealed in luggage, clothing, personal belongings or through "body packing", he added.
"Airports remain the primary route used by syndicates to smuggle drugs using mules, particularly involving international networks, while ports and land border checkpoints are also used through different operational methods," he said when contacted on Wednesday (July 22).
In a related development, Comm Hussein said 180 Malaysians were arrested overseas as suspected drug mules between 2024 and April this year: 84 in 2024, 66 last year, and 30 up to April this year.
"Although the figures show a declining trend, they remain worrying as Malaysians continue to fall victim to overseas syndicates.
"Among the countries where Malaysians have been arrested are Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.
"Most are believed to have been deceived by job offers or promises of easy financial rewards without realising the risks and severe legal consequences in those countries," he said.
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Comm Hussein said the NCID works closely with other countries' enforcement agencies through intelligence sharing, joint operations and information exchanges to identify and dismantle syndicate networks.
He added that intelligence obtained from interrogating suspects arrested in Malaysia is shared with the relevant authorities overseas to help identify networks, while investigations into local syndicates remain ongoing.
He also advised the public not to be easily deceived by suspicious job offers, holiday packages or financial rewards, and to avoid carrying items belonging to others without knowing their contents, particularly when travelling through airports.
"Involvement in such activities can result in severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty in several countries.
"Public cooperation is vital in helping authorities combat cross-border drug smuggling," he said. – Bernama
