Crime & Courts

Federal police make biggest drug haul this year at KLIA

SEPANG: Police seized 254kg of ketamine worth RM12.7 million, dubbed the biggest drug haul, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) cargo last Thursday.

Federal Narcotic Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said the drugs, declared as garments, were packed inside 248 packages of Chinese tea.

"Our investigations showed the drugs were about to taken to Taipei, Taiwan to be sold there," he told reporters at a special press conference at KLIA police headquarters today.

The integrated operation between Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotic Group (STING) and KLIA police, was based on information given by the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau of Taiwan (MJIB), Mohmad said.

"The MJIB had earlier foiled an attempt to smuggle 30.5kg of heroin, hidden in 90 thermos flasks to Taiwan from Malaysia on Sept 27.

"They believe it is the same syndicate as the sender's address is the same.

"Based on the information, STING and KLIA police raided the KLIA cargo and found six boxes, containing 248 packages of the ketamine.

"We believe the drugs are enough for 850,000 drug addicts," he said.

He said the drugs were more valueable in Taiwan market whereby one kilogrammes of heroin valued at RM70,000 in Malaysia, is sold at RM1 million in Taiwan.

"A kilogramme of ketamine worth RM50,000 here is sold for RM500,000 in Taiwan," he said.

Mohmad added that investigations was still ongoing, and no arrest has been made so far.

"We have identified the sender's address which is located in the Klang Valley and we are still checking on it," he said.

He said police also believed the drug bust in Terengganu last month, could be connection to the latest seizure as both had similar modus operandi.

Mohmad said MJIB and the Federal police have been working together since the last five years, to foil attempts of drug smuggling into both countries.

"So far, we have arrested 73 individuals; 54 locals and 19 foreigners, confiscated 1,025kg of various types of drugs and more than four million various types of pills worth more that RM103 million in five raids in the last five years." he added.

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