MIRI: The Sarawak Customs Department prevented a drug smuggling attempt involving methamphetamine worth nearly RM335,180 at Miri Airport.
Its director Norizan Yahya said Customs officers and the Passenger Inspection Special Unit (UKPP) discovered the drug on March 5 at around 1.10 pm when they inspected an unclaimed luggage that had arrived a day before on a commercial flight from Kuala Lumpur.
“Inside the bag, officers found 10 clear plastic packets suspected to contain methamphetamine, weighing about 10,138 grammes,” he said in a statement today.
Norizan said that the smuggler had hidden the drugs among clothes and food items in an attempt to avoid detection.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction. If given a life sentence, the offender must also receive at least 15 strokes of the cane.
Norizan urged the public to help Customs in fighting smuggling activities – not only drugs, but also cigarettes, alcohol, fireworks and vehicles.
“Smuggling doesn’t just cause losses to the country’s revenue. It also threatens national security and the wellbeing of our people,” he said.
He encouraged anyone with information to report it via the Customs Toll-Free Line at 1-800-88-8855 or to the nearest Customs office.