PADANG BESAR: The Customs Department found 70 packs of Methamphetamine worth over RM2 million hidden in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) during an inspection at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex (ICQS) in Padang Besar on Sept 3.
The incident occurred around 8.15am when the Thailand-registered vehicle was stopped for routine checks.
Perlis Customs director Ismail Hashim said the suspect, a Thai national in his 20s, pretended to retrieve his passport before vanishing from sight.
"A check of the SUV found 70 packets hidden in a special compartment under the vehicle's seats. All the packets were believed to contain meth weighing 73.319 kg," he told reporters today.
He said collaboration with Thai Customs found that the SUV belongs to a Thai woman in her 40s from Nakhon Si Thammarat.
"We also found that this vehicle has crossed the border between Thailand and Malaysia five times this year, believed to have travelled from that province.
"The meth was likely intended for distribution in northern states and the Klang Valley.
Based on this seizure, it could be supplied to more than 730,000 drug addicts.
"The seized items are estimated to be worth RM2,346,208, and the SUV, valued at RM70,000, was also confiscated," he said.
Ismail said authorities are still investigating whether the suspect is in the country or has fled back to Thailand.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment with not less than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.