SEPANG, March 9 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) successfully foiled attempts to smuggle drugs and seized various foreign currencies with a total value of RM3.26 million through three separate cases in January and February this year.
Customs KLIA director Zulkifli Muhammad said that for the first case on January 29, an Enforcement Division team, along with the Passenger Inspection Branch (CPP 1) and the Terminal I Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), detained a Tanzanian man in his 50s at Terminal 1 International Arrival Hall for suspected drug trafficking using a body packing method.
“A body scan examination of the suspect found a suspicious object in the abdominal area before the man was taken to a hospital for further examination.
"The inspection found 101 capsules, containing a white powder suspected to be cocaine, wrapped in transparent plastic, which were extracted from the suspect's body. The total seizure was estimated to weigh 1,629.20 grammes with a value of approximately RM733,140," he said in a statement today.
The suspect has been charged in court, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and not less than 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed.
In a second case on February 6, teams from the CPP 1 and AKPS Terminal 1 detained a Bangladeshi traveller at Terminal I International Arrival Hall for allegedly bringing in foreign currency without declaration.
Zulkifli said that an inspection of the traveller’s luggage found cash in Saudi Riyals, euros, and British pounds hidden in the lining of shirts to avoid detection by authorities.
"The traveller failed to declare in the Customs Form 7 the amount of cash to be brought into Malaysia, and violated Regulation 55(1)(b) of the Customs Regulations 2019, which requires travellers wishing to bring in cash and negotiable instruments equivalent to or exceeding US$10,000 into Malaysia to declare them.
"The total value of the seized currency is estimated at RM2.41 million and the case is being investigated under Section 28B of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, where if convicted of violating subsection (1), the suspect can be fined not exceeding RM3 million or imprisoned for a period not exceeding five years or both," he said.
In the third case on February 10, an Indonesian traveller was detained at the KLIA Terminal 2 International Departure Hall for allegedly attempting to take out Malaysian Ringgit currency without declaration and approval from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
The traveller did not declare the amount of cash to be taken out of Malaysia and violated Regulation 55(1)(b) of the 2019 Customs Regulations.
Zulkifli said the case has been handed over to the Customs KLIA branch for further action.
"The value of the seized currency is RM120,100, and the case is being investigated under Section 28B of AMLATFPUAA 2001, where if convicted of violating subsection (1), the suspect can be fined not exceeding RM3 million or imprisoned for a period not exceeding five years or both," he said.
