KUCHING: A local man’s bold attempt to smuggle over 10 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine into Sarawak, was foiled by alert customs officers at Kuching International Airport (KIA) last month.
The suspect, who had just flown in from Kuala Lumpur, was behaving suspiciously at the baggage carousel around 12:00 pm on April 16.
Noticing his movements, a team from the Sarawak Customs Department’s Special Passenger Inspection Unit (UKPP) and Narcotics Branch kept him under close watch.
Sarawak Customs Department Director, Norizan Yahya, said the man was seen retrieving a box before heading straight into the toilet with it.
“The team, who had been monitoring his movements, moved in and conducted an inspection. They discovered 10 plastic packets containing suspected methamphetamine inside the box.
“The drugs, weighing a total of 10.13 kg, are estimated to be worth nearly RM347,200 on the street,” he said in a statement.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had concealed the drugs among snacks in a bid to deceive airport authorities and avoid detection.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment and caning, upon conviction.
Norizan urged the public to assist the department in combatting drug trafficking and other smuggling activities, which not only threaten national security but also rob the country of revenue.
