SIBU: A box that looked like a harmless shipment of vitamin tablets turned out to be a Trojan horse for a major drug smuggling attempt – packed with Ecstasy pills shaped like Doraemon and worth over RM1 million.
This was uncovered by the Sarawak Customs Department’s Narcotics Unit on June 25 during a tense three-day surveillance operation at a courier hub in town.
Sarawak Customs Department director Norizan Yahya revealed that no one came forward to collect the box throughout the surveillance period.
When the team finally opened the box, what appeared to be 12 plastic containers of ‘Vitamin C 1000 tablets’ turned out to be something far more sinister.
“Instead of supplements, officers found aluminium packets hidden inside the plastic containers – each filled with pills shaped like Doraemon, the popular Japanese cartoon character.
“The pills are believed to be Ecstasy, weighing a total of 5.23kg with an estimated street value of RM1,002,000,” he said.
It is believed that the parcel, flown into Sarawak from the Peninsula via courier service, is part of a broader tactic to mask illegal substances using health product packaging.
Ecstasy pills are classified as a dangerous drug under Part I of the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Norizan stated that the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Act, which provides for the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment with whipping, upon conviction.
Members of the public are urged to assist the department in the fight against drug trafficking and other smuggling activities, which not only threaten national security but also rob the country of revenue.
