Attempts to smuggle RM1 mil worth of syabu hidden in speakers foiled

SEPANG – Police foiled the attempt of drug dealers who smuggled syabu in tea packets and hid the illicit goods in speakers in two separate raids at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) cargo complex on Sunday and Wednesday.

The drugs, estimated to be worth RM1 million, were seized in raids by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of the KLIA District Police Headquarters (IPD).

District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Imran Abdul Rahman said the drugs were believed to be smuggled to Sabah and Sarawak using couriers from Klang Valley.

"In the first raid at about 8pm on Sunday, police confiscated three packets of tea containing drugs believed to be syabu weighing three kilograms (kg) hidden in electrical equipment to be sent to Tawau, Sabah.

"In the second raid at about 11.30am on Wednesday, we seized 25 plastic packs and tea containing drugs believed to be syabu weighing 2.5kg also hidden in electrical equipment," he told a press conference at the KLIA Police Station here today.

Imran said the investigation found that the modus operandi of the syndicate was to send drugs hidden in electrical appliances and modified boxes to confuse the authorities.

“The syndicate is believed to have used false sender and receiver details at the newly opened delivery agent company to make it difficult to trace them.

“Police do not rule out the possibility of the involvement of employees at the courier company who received the goods to be delivered to certain destinations.

"Investigation papers have been opened under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," he said.

Imran added several attempts to smuggle drugs had been successfully thwarted since the beginning of 2022.

"Based on the statistics recorded, the KLIA police managed to seize 56.1 kilograms of syabu drugs estimated to be worth RM2.018 million in the KLIA cargo area, Sepang.

"The total drugs seized could be used by about 280,000 addicts," he said.

He said efforts to combat drug trafficking were ongoing, but it is not the sole responsibility of the authorities.

“The public in general needs to have the awareness to combat this together and cooperate with the police,” he said, urging the public with information on drug-related activities to come forward and cooperate with the police.