A LUCRATIVE “job offer” on TikTok turned out to be a front for an international drug trafficking syndicate, following the arrest of four individuals attempting to smuggle 86 kilogrammes of cannabis worth RM8.3 million through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Monday.
Director-General of the Malaysian Border Control and Security Agency (AKPS), Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, said the suspects—two men and two women in their 20s—were detained after airport security detected suspicious items in their luggage.
“The attempt was uncovered when one couple’s luggage was re-scanned after they were denied boarding. Further inspection led to the arrest of two more individuals who had already checked in,” he told a press conference at KLIA on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had accepted a “travel job” offer via TikTok, promising between RM8,000 and RM11,000 to transport items while holidaying in Manchester, United Kingdom.
“All four suspects have been handed over to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s Narcotics Division for further investigation under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” Mohd Shuhaily said, urging the public to remain cautious of online offers that appear too good to be true.
He added that border security checks will be intensified to prevent further smuggling activities.
Meanwhile, AKPS will begin recruiting veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) in stages starting January next year, once the Budget 2026 allocation is released.
Mohd Shuhaily said the phased recruitment will enhance the agency’s operational capability while optimising resources.
“In principle, we expect the recruitment of military veterans to commence in January next year. The process will be carried out in phases,” he told reporters at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Thursday.
He said the move would give the agency a strategic advantage as military veterans possess strong discipline and extensive experience in national defence and security.
“I believe this advantage will not only strengthen AKPS’s operational capacity but also help reduce training costs and overall expenditure,” he added.
Mohd Shuhaily explained that the recruitment would follow a model similar to that used by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and would not constitute permanent appointments in the civil service.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced during the tabling of Budget 2026 that AKPS would receive 220 new positions, with priority given to ATM veterans to reinforce national border security as part of broader efforts to enhance safety at entry points nationwide. - November 6, 2025
