NILAI: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department took down a drug distribution syndicate and seized 273kg of methamphetamine with a 'QR code' label, valued at RM8.7 million, earlier this month.
This followed an inspection on a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) by the department's Narcotics unit at Bandar Puteri Puchong, Selangor, around 10.45am on July 5.
Acting deputy director-general of Customs (Enforcement and Compliance), Ribuan Abdullah, said the drugs were believed to have been transported from the north before being brought to the Klang Valley by a 35-year-old woman.
"In cooperation with the department's Intelligence unit and assisted by the Customs Field Operations Combat Team, we took down a local drug distribution syndicate involving the seizure of methamphetamine on July 5.
"The team detained a Hyundai Starex MPV in Bandar Puteri Puchong. Inspection of the MPV revealed 13 sacks containing 268 packages labelled as Chinese herbal tea.
"Upon examining the packages, they were found to contain clear crystal substances suspected to be methamphetamine, weighing a total of 273.7kg and valued at RM8.7 million," he said at a press conference today.
He said initial investigations revealed that the syndicate was involved in distributing drugs obtained from a neighbouring country and brought to the Klang Valley via land routes.
"We were informed that the woman, who works as a GRO (Guest Relations Officer) at an entertainment centre, rented the MPV for two days in the north and hid the drugs in the sacks to avoid detection by authorities," he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
"We are still conducting investigations to identify and track down other syndicate members.
"Regarding the QR code on the methamphetamine packaging, we believe it is associated with a certain gang as we tried scanning it, but it did not work," he said.
Ribuan added that based on the total weight of the seized drugs, it was estimated that over 1.3 million individuals could be saved from drug abuse.