Customs cripple drug-smuggling syndicate worth RM71m

NILAI: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department's (JKDM) narcotics division has crippled a drug-distribution syndicate worth more than RM71 million and seized 1.2 million sticks of cigarettes which have not been cleared by the JKDM in a raid on a supermarket in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, on Tuesday.
Its director-general Datuk Seri T. Subromaniam said the confiscated drugs comprised 1,187kg of methamphetamine worth RM71 million and 750g of heroin worth RM120,000.
"In a raid on a supermarket in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, we seized a container which was suspected to contain drugs ... investigations into the container which was declared to contain 'foodstuff' found 40 boxes wrapped in gunny sacks which were suspected to contain drugs.
"In the raid, five suspects were also detained, comprising three Myanmar nationals and two locals aged between 22 and 48 years, and further questioning led to the detention of a local female suspect aged 31 years who was the director of a retail shop company in Cheras, Selangor," he said in a press conference here today.
He said initial investigations found that the drugs were from Yangon, Myanmar and had been brought into the country, believed to be meant for distribution in the local market.
Subromaniam said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which provides for a death penalty by hanging or life imprisonment and up to 15 strokes of the cane.
He added that in the same raid, the Customs department also seized 1.24 million sticks of cigarettes, one tonne of tobacco, 1.5 tonne of chewing tobacco, 1.3 tonnes of various medicines which were believed to have not been passed by the department in the container.
"The value of the confiscated goods is estimated to be RM95,000 which involves duties and taxes amounting to RM1 million," adding that the suspects would be remanded for 10 days beginning last Wednesday.
"The confiscated goods are being investigated under Section 135 (1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 which provides for a penalty of 10 times the value of the goods, which does not exceed 20 times, or a prison sentence of up to three years or both," he said. — Bernama