First-time drug mules foiled at KLIA as police uncover multiple smuggling syndicates

A SERIES of coordinated police operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport have thwarted attempts by five individuals, believed to be first-time drug mules, to smuggle narcotics into and out of the country.

Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the suspects had been enticed with promises of substantial financial rewards, but their activities were disrupted through intelligence-led operations conducted between March 30 and April 8.

The operations, carried out in collaboration between the Selangor Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad auxiliary police, led to the dismantling of three drug trafficking syndicates operating in and around the airport.

“During the period, we successfully dismantled three drug trafficking syndicates at several separate locations around KLIA in Sepang.

“Four local suspects aged between 19 and 37 were arrested, involving syndicates targeting both international and domestic markets,” he said at a press conference at the Selangor police headquarters on Monday.

In one case, a 19-year-old local woman was arrested on April 5 in a parking area near the airport.

“The suspect, who works as a clothing sales assistant, was detained with a suitcase containing 12 plastic packages of drugs suspected to be syabu weighing 12.5 kilogrammes.

“Preliminary urine screening found the suspect to be drug-free and she had no prior criminal record,” he said.

Police estimated the seized drugs, believed to be methamphetamine intended for the domestic market, to be worth approximately RM625,000.

In a separate development, Shazeli said 12 police personnel under investigation for a robbery involving cryptocurrency earlier this year have been reassigned to non-operational duties pending the outcome of investigations.

He said the measure was necessary to ensure the integrity of the investigation and to prevent any interference.

“The investigation is still ongoing as several technical reports are still required, particularly involving cryptocurrency transactions.

“Therefore, we are awaiting reports from technical agencies. It is almost complete, but we cannot refer the case to the state prosecution yet as we are still waiting for these technical reports,” he said.

He added that while the officers remain on duty, their roles have been restricted.

“They are still working, but their duties are limited to non-operational and non-field assignments in their respective postings,” he said.

The case involves allegations under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code following a robbery targeting a group of Chinese nationals, resulting in losses estimated at RM200,000 in cryptocurrency. - April 13, 2026