SEPANG: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) recently seized 8.37kg of smuggled ketamine drugs, valued at RM376,650, from an Indian tourist.
A first-time visitor to Malaysia, the 38-year-old man from Kochi, India, who was travelling on a one-way Malindo Air ticket to KL, was detained by KLIA Customs officers as he was going through the airport scanner.
The drugs were hidden in special compartments in his 54 clutch bags, said the Deputy Director General of Customs (GST), Datuk Zulkifli Yahya.
"He flew in via a Malindo Air OD 232 flight. Based on our investigation, the white crystal powder found in his 54 clutch bags were ketamine, weighing 8.37kg and worth RM376,650," Zulkifli told reporters at a press conference at the KLIA Customs Complex.
The drugs were meant for the domestic market - with a local syndicate network involved, he further revealed.
Also present at the press conference was the Director of KLIA Customs, Datuk Hamzah Sundang.
The case is being investigated under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a death penalty upon conviction.
"The suspect is now being remanded,” said Zulkifli.
In two other separate cases, he said, KLIA Customs also seized undeclared foreign currencies worth 29,000 Euros (RM140,000) from a Yemeni traveller.
He was hiding the money in his trouser pocket, said Zulkifli.
The other case, he said, involved a husband and wife couple from Thailand, who had failed to declare RM700,000 that they carried in their luggage.
The cases will be investigated under Section 135 (1)(a) of Customs Act 1967 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001).