SEPANG: Two attempts to smuggle over RM3.2 million worth of drugs have been foiled by the Customs Department.
They also stopped a foreign man from attempting to smuggle out RM572,563 and S$24,500 in cash.
Customs Department Central Zone assistant director-general Norlela Ismail said one of the cases involved ketamine hidden in packets of tea placed in a box meant for instant noodles.
"A team from our passenger inspection division together with personnel from the Malaysia Airports Aviation Security (Avsec) made the discovery on June 16.
"A 33-year-old passenger had checked in a box of food at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 about 7pm.
"The man was supposed to fly to Miri, Sarawak," she told reporters.
Norlela said when the box was checked, it was found to contain 15 packets of crystals which were hidden inside packets of tea.
"We believe the crystals are 15.18kg of ketamine worth RM760,000.
"The suspect is believed to be a drug mule and he uses the self check-in facilities in order to smuggle the drugs out," she said, adding that the suspect has been remanded.
In an unrelated case, Norlela said they also seized RM2.5 million worth of methylenedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA) pills at the KLIA Cargo Free Trade Zone three days later.
"The drugs were packed in a parcel which was declared as "Njoy Caramel Cubes."
"We checked the parcel and found 15 thermos flasks which contained 14.66kg of pills," she said, adding that the parcel was shipped from a European country.
She said checks revealed that the recipient address listed was fake.
"We are conducting investigations to identify the actual recipient."
On the attempt by a foreigner to smuggle out cash, Norlela said the man was detained at KLIA on June 13.
"The 60-year-old suspect who works as a company director was detained after checks on his hand-carry luggage revealed the cash.
"Under Rule 55(1)(b) of the Customs Regulations 2019, travellers must declare any cash currency being brought out of the country if it equalled to or exceeded US$10,000," she said.