PUTRAJAYA: The Customs Department seized about 30kg of drugs worth RM3.2 million in two operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.
Its Central Zone deputy director Norlela Ismail said in an operation on June 16, a 33-year-old local man was arrested at approximately 7.30pm while attempting to check in his food box at the counter.
"Upon inspection of the box, authorities discovered 15 compressed white crystals, suspected to be ketamine, concealed inside tea bags.
"The package inside the box was disguised with an instant noodles label and weighed an estimated 15.181kg, with value estimated at RM760,000," she told a press conference today.
Norlela said that the modus operandi of putting drugs in tea bags and placing them in food boxes was used by the syndicate to evade being detected by the authorities.
"The syndicate also uses the 'self-check-in' luggage method to transport drugs to various locations," she said, adding that the man involved was travelling to Miri, Sarawak.
Meanwhile, during an operation on June 19, the department found a courier package that was labelled as Njoy Caramel Cubes in the Cargo Free Zone area at KLIA Sepang.
"After inspection, the team discovered 15 thermoses labelled 'Lavender 1000ml' containing pills suspected to be methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA).
"The total weight of the seized drugs is approximately 14.663kg. The MDMA alone has an estimated market value of RM2.5 million," she said.
She said that initial investigations revealed the box containing the drugs originated from a European country and was addressed to a company here.
"We are currently checking it with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. Usually, the company listed does not exist," she added.
Norlela said that both cases were investigated under Section 39(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment or if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
In another development, Norlela said the department also apprehended a foreigner, attempting to carry nearly RM700,000 in currency out of Terminal 1 on June 13.
"Upon inspection of the luggage carried by the foreigner, we found a sum of Malaysian Ringgit currency of various notes amounting to RM572,563 and Singapore Dollar currency amounting to S$24,500 loaded in his luggage.
"The traveller did not declare the amount of cash to be taken out of Malaysia and violated Regulation 55(1)(b) of the Customs Regulation 2019," she said.