SHAH ALAM, Sept 4 — The Malaysian Customs Department has seized more than 722kg of various types of drugs worth RM42.82 million in four operations conducted in Selangor in July.
Berita Harian reported that its director-general Datuk Seri Amran Ahmad said the seizures involved ketamine, cannabis flowers, MDMA, and methamphetamine.
The largest seizure involved 505.6kg of ketamine worth RM25.28 million, which was discovered at a warehouse in Section 27, Shah Alam, on July 21.
The raid was conducted following intelligence received from the Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry's General Directorate of Narcotics Control.
“An inspection at the warehouse found 119 silver-coloured plastic packages containing white chunks and powder believed to be ketamine,” he said during a media conference at the Customs Narcotics Branch headquarters today.
The drugs were believed to have been concealed inside commercial boxes containing packets of cocoa powder.
One suspect, a local man in his 30s, was arrested and has since been charged in court.
Amran added that investigations found several of the drugs originated from Spain and the Netherlands before being routed through Malaysia for distribution to other markets.
“They use Malaysia as a transit location or drug market. We take this matter seriously and will investigate and cripple these activities based on the information received,” he said.
In a separate operation on July 8, Customs officers raided a house in Bandar Botanic, Klang, and seized 160.6kg of cannabis flowers worth RM12.84 million.
Five suspects were arrested during the raid, with one subsequently charged with drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, Amran said that the raid at a warehouse in Meru, Klang on July 7, revealed 51.4kg of cannabis flowers worth RM4.11 million were found concealed alongside chilli paste, diapers, and dried food.
Another case on July 9 involved a parcel which was intercepted at the Pos Malaysia International Hub at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), resulting in the seizure of 3.3kg of MDMA and 2kg of methamphetamine.
The drugs, which were delivered from Europe are estimated to be valued at RM587,500, and were found concealed in the specially modified compartment of a folder bag declared as a leather handbag.
He said the Customs officers arrested two Malaysians in the Ukay area in Ampang, before four foreign nationals were detained at a house linked to the address stated on the consignment note.
The department is working closely with the Royal Malaysia Police’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and foreign enforcement agencies to exchange intelligence and prevent Malaysia from being used as a route for international drug trafficking.
All the cases are being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
