THE Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has thwarted a drug trafficking operation attempting to exploit courier services, seizing narcotics valued at more than RM1.2 million in Miri, Sarawak.
The bust, which took place on March 14, involved two separate seizures at a courier company located within Eastwood Valley Industrial Park. Acting on intelligence, officers from JKDM’s Narcotics Branch conducted targeted inspections at the premises, uncovering parcels filled with illicit substances.
Sarawak Customs Director Norizan Yahya confirmed the seizures in a statement released today, highlighting the increasingly brazen tactics used by syndicates.
“The first seizure occurred at 2pm, when officers inspected a suspicious parcel and discovered 3.6 kilogrammes of Ecstasy with an estimated value of RM603,371, along with 1.01 kilogrammes of Ketamine worth RM50,600,” he said.
A second parcel intercepted later that same day contained two more packages of Ecstasy, weighing a total of 3.45 kilogrammes and valued at approximately RM577,653. According to Norizan, the drugs had been concealed among food items in an effort to avoid detection.
He explained that the syndicate had employed a calculated modus operandi, using air courier services to send narcotics from Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak, with parcels addressed to uninhabited or non-existent locations in an attempt to evade authorities.
“This method allows the syndicate to delay interception and retrieve the parcels later, once they’ve cleared the initial delivery process,” Norizan said.
The case is currently under investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, a provision that carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
Authorities have not disclosed whether any arrests have been made, but investigations are ongoing to identify those behind the trafficking operation.
The seizure is the latest in a series of efforts by Customs to clamp down on the smuggling of narcotics into East Malaysia, where drug syndicates have increasingly turned to creative and covert channels such as courier services.
Norizan urged members of the public and businesses in the logistics sector to remain vigilant and report any suspicious parcels or deliveries to the authorities.
“This successful operation underscores the department’s commitment to combatting drug trafficking through constant surveillance and collaboration with industry stakeholders,” he added. - April 16, 2025
