KELANTAN police will work closely with narcotics authorities in Thailand following the seizure of 450,000 yaba pills, worth an estimated 13.5 million baht (approximately RM1.8 million), intended for smuggling into Malaysia via courier services.
Kelantan Police Chief, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat, confirmed that his department is awaiting further details from Thai officials and has not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects involved in the cross-border operation.
“RM1.8 million is the value over there, but in our market, it would be even more. Once these pills enter Malaysia, the price increases significantly due to higher demand and quantity,” he said during a press conference following the Kelantan police headquarters’ monthly assembly on Sunday.
He added that Malaysian authorities are strengthening cooperation with their Thai counterparts to tackle the growing threat of drug trafficking and abuse, particularly along the shared border.
“I see strong commitment from the Thai authorities in addressing drug smuggling into Malaysia. This cooperation is vital in combating the illicit trade,” he said.
Thai media yesterday reported that authorities there had foiled an attempt to smuggle the yaba pills into Malaysia using a courier service in Sai Thong, a district in the border town of Sungai Golok. The drugs were confiscated during a raid at around 2pm local time (3pm Malaysian time) at a courier distribution hub.
Chairman of the Sungai Golok Narcotics Administration Centre, Supeeyan Daemokleng, said the operation was based on intelligence indicating a large-scale drug delivery was being arranged via courier into Sungai Golok.
Commenting further, Datuk Mohd Yusoff urged courier companies operating in Malaysia to take a more active role in identifying suspicious packages and preventing their platforms from being exploited by drug traffickers.
“Courier companies must play a more proactive role in the fight against drug smuggling,” he said.
“At the same time, they are advised to report to the police immediately if they come across any packages that appear suspicious or do not follow standard procedures.”
He stressed that the involvement of courier services in drug trafficking cases is becoming increasingly sophisticated, making the industry’s cooperation essential in thwarting the evolving methods used by smugglers. - September 21, 2025
