Duo nabbed at Kuching airport over bid to smuggle RM1.32mil in drugs

 The two men were arrested after they arrived on a flight from Johor Bahru on July 9.

Sarawak customs director Norizan Yahya (centre) said the two suspects are believed to have been paid RM1,000 for every kg of drugs successfully smuggled. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Sarawak customs department foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs worth RM1.32 million through Kuching International Airport after arresting two men there on July 9.

Sarawak customs director Norizan Yahya said both suspects were believed to have removed their baggage tags immediately after arriving at KIA to avoid being identified as their owners.

He said the first suspect was detained at about 9.10pm by a narcotics branch team after he had arrived at KIA on a flight from Johor Bahru.

“An inspection of the luggage uncovered 13 Chinese tea packets suspected of containing 13.2kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated value of RM660,000,” Bernama reported him as saying in Kuching today.

Another man was arrested about 10 minutes later after an inspection of his baggage uncovered 13 Chinese tea packets suspected of containing 13.2kg of methamphetamine, and one red packet containing 83 Erimin 5 pills. The total seizure was estimated at RM660,560.

Norizan said a preliminary investigation found that the two suspects were linked, and were believed to have been paid RM1,000 for every kg of drugs successfully smuggled.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and up to 15 strokes of the rotan upon conviction. - FMT