JOHOR BARU: A Sarawakian couple allegedly recruited three friends to smuggle cocaine into Japan by carrying shoes containing the drugs, with each of the five Malaysians reportedly paid RM8,000.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the five, who were arrested at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, were believed to have known they were carrying illegal items.
“We believe they knew what they were carrying. At the very least, they knew they were carrying something illegal,” he told a press conference held at Johor police headquarters here on Friday (Oct 16).
Comm Hussein said the group comprised a husband and wife, who allegedly brought along three of their friends for what was presented as a holiday in Japan.
The five were each given a pair of shoes in which cocaine had been concealed before they travelled from Sarawak to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), before flying to Tokyo.
Japanese authorities arrested the five last Saturday after discovering about 5kg of cocaine hidden beneath the insoles of their shoes.
Comm Hussein said the suspects had no previous criminal records, and investigations were ongoing to determine whether they had travelled to other countries using the same modus operandi.
He added that the group had also engaged a travel agent from Kuala Lumpur, who had returned to Malaysia and was not among those arrested.
Comm Hussein urged Malaysians to exercise caution when offered overseas holidays or given items such as shoes, bags and other equipment to carry abroad.
He warned that drug syndicates could use such arrangements to recruit unsuspecting travellers as drug mules.
The case is being investigated by Japanese authorities, while Malaysian police are working to establish whether the suspects have links to local or international drug syndicates.
Meanwhile, Comm Hussein said Malaysian authorities had shared information with their Philippine counterparts about a Philippine drug syndicate allegedly using private aircraft to transport drugs from Laos to the Philippines.
He said two Philippine nationals believed to have made bookings for the flights had been identified, with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency following up on the information.
“Malaysian and Philippine authorities are cooperating in investigating the syndicate,” he added.
On reports that the syndicate could involve a Philippine politician, Comm Hussein said Malaysian authorities were still awaiting official confirmation from the relevant authorities.
