SHAH ALAM, Aug 11 — Fourteen Malaysians were arrested abroad for carrying drugs through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in the first seven months of this year, involving the seizure of 73.17kg of drugs worth RM5.5 million.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the arrests involved 14 cases, comprising 11 men and three women.
“The countries involved were Taiwan with six cases, the Philippines (two), Indonesia (three), Hong Kong (one), Macau (one), and Maldives (one),” he said during a media conference on the NCID's success in dismantling an international drug trafficking syndicate today.
Hussein added that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has also foiled attempts to smuggle drugs out through KLIA, with 51 individuals arrested in 41 cases during the same period.
The 51 arrests involved individuals from 13 countries, with United Kingdom passport holders accounting for the highest number at 14, followed by Malaysia (12), Singapore (eight), France (five), Indonesia (two), Hong Kong (two), Japan (two), while Thailand, Ireland, Slovakia, India, Portugal, and Uganda each recorded one.
“From the 51 individuals arrested at KLIA, 1.2 tonnes of drugs worth RM97 million were seized. This shows PDRM’s success at KLIA,” he said.
Based on a comparison between the amount of drugs seized by the PDRM at KLIA and the amount successfully taken out of the country, about six per cent were subsequently detected by foreign authorities.
“If we look at these figures, six per cent of the drugs that we seized or the attempts that we successfully foiled were detected overseas. Based on these statistics, we are doing well at KLIA,” Hussein said.
Meanwhile, he advised Malaysians not to be easily deceived by syndicates offering various incentives, lucrative payments or holidays.
“That is our message. We highlight this in every media session so that our citizens are alert and do not fall victim to or become ensnared by drug syndicates,” Hussein said.
