SEPANG: Two men were arrested at KLIA Terminal 2 on suspicion of being drug mules attempting to smuggle syabu to Sarawak yesterday.
The drugs, 38.85 kg of syabu worth approximately RM1.24 million, were packed and sealed in 37 plastic bags and placed inside two pieces of luggage.
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the first suspect was arrested at KLIA Terminal 2's departure hall while the second suspect was apprehended at a nearby hotel.
Hussein said both suspects, aged 34 and 36, were an electrician and an unemployed man.
He said this was the syndicate's eighth attempt using the same modus operandi, which had previously been detected and thwarted by police.
"The modus operandi, similar to previous attempts this year, involves the syndicate hiring transporters from Miri, Bintulu, and Sibu.
"They come to Kuala Lumpur, stay at a hotel near KLIA, receive the supply and then transport it to Sarawak.
"This time, we caught them with the drugs in their luggage," he told reporters at a press conference at the Airport Management Centre, KLIA, today.
Hussein said the suspects were offered RM2,500 per trip to smuggle drugs from the Klang Valley to Sarawak before being distributed there.
"The suspects admitted that they were paid RM2,500 for each trip to transport drugs.
"We believe the supply they received came from the northern states and the Klang Valley before being distributed into the Sarawak market."
He said police also seized RM600 in cash. Initial urine tests found both suspects tested positive for methamphetamine.
"This success is the result of our cooperation with airport security. We have increased our monitoring, which enabled us to detect those attempting to smuggle drugs into Sarawak.
"We warn those who intend to become drug mules to think twice. The authorities are always vigilant."
The first suspect had one criminal record, while the second suspect had three criminal records.
They are being remanded for seven days. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
If convicted, they could face the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.