SEPANG: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has thwarted an attempt to smuggle 40kg of methamphetamine worth over RM6.6mil hidden in an industrial machine at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Customs director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Zainudin said a routine inspection at the cargo terminal at the Free Commercial Zone on Oct 6 led to the discovery of the machine containing the concealed drugs.
“The drugs originated from the Americas and were believed to be in transit for distribution in Gulf countries.
“This success was also the result of collaboration between the Saudi Arabian government and Customs,” she told a press conference here on Wednesday (Oct 16).
“The modus operandi involved falsely declaring the cargo as a computer numerical control coordinate measuring machine, and concealing the drugs in a secret compartment,” she added.
Anis Rizana said authorities also found 33kg of cannabis worth RM102,300 at KLIA Terminal 1 on Oct 10, following an inspection of the luggage of two local men who had just arrived from a neighbouring country.
She said both suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, and preliminary investigations indicated that the cannabis was intended for the Klang Valley market.
“Customs officers detected suspicious objects in the two pieces of luggage and found 58 airtight plastic packages containing clumps of green plants.
“The use of airtight packaging was to mask the smell.
“The luggage was checked in as part of an attempt to deceive the authorities,” she said.
In a third case, Anis Rizana said they found clear plastic containers containing suspected methamphetamine and ketamine worth over RM450,000 at KLIA Terminal 2 on Oct 6.
The discovery followed the inspection of an abandoned box with a flight tag from Kuala Lumpur to Miri.
Anis Rizana said all the cases are being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Describing the three cases as the largest drug seizures at KLIA this year, she said Customs would continue to collaborate with international partners and various agencies to combat drug smuggling.
She also urged the public to come forward with any information on such crimes. – Bernama
