NILAI – The Royal Malaysian Customs Department foiled a syndicate’s attempt to smuggle ketamine valued at an estimated RM13.48 million and weighing 245kg, hidden with various types of nuts at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on July 4.
Its director-general, Datuk Zazuli Johan said a team from the Customs Department’s narcotics branch seized 49 plastic packages containing crystals believed to be ketamine at the KLIA Air Cargo Complex at about 11pm on that day.
“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to declare the goods (drugs) as Haricot Verts (green beans), as inside the packages were beans mixed with crystal powder (suspected to be the drugs).
“Preliminary investigations found that the goods were exported from a European country, via a Middle Eastern country before landing at KLIA as the final destination.”
Zazuli said this to reporters at a press conference at the department’s narcotics branch in Kg Jijan here today.
He said that no arrests related to the case have been made yet, and his team is actively conducting investigations to track down the suspects.
He added that the seizure was the largest case recorded so far this year and it was understood the drugs were intended for the local market. – Bernama, July 14, 2022
