More drug mules arrested - New Straits Times

BETTER SCREENING: 68, including 20 Nigerians, nabbed this year, drugs worth RM34m seized

SEPANG: THE introduction of new measures for better assessment and screening of passengers on arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and  Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) has paid off, resulting in an increase in the arrest of  drug traffickers at both  airports this year.

KLIA Customs Department director, Badaruddin Mohamed Rafik, said the department had nabbed 68 traffickers this year, which doubled last year's figures.

"We have tightened security to allow us to conduct better screening on flight passengers at the arrival hall and exit points.

"This has increased our chances in detecting drug traffickers."

He said more changes will be made next year, including enhancing security at customs checking counters, baggage carousels and exit points.

Badaruddin said most of the traffickers arrested this year were from Nigeria and India.

"We arrested 20 Nigerian and 19 Indian nationals this year, as well as two Germans, two Romanians and a New Zealander early this year.

"The rest were mainly from other Asian countries," he said at a press conference here, yesterday.

Badaruddin added that although the number of arrests had increased, the amount of drug seized had decreased significantly.

He said this was because the syndicates were taking a more cautious approach.

"The syndicates sent out more mules carrying smaller amount of drugs, so they could minimise losses incurred in case any of the mules were arrested."

He said drugs seized this year amounted to RM34 million, compared with RM260 million last year.

Syabu was on top of the list of smuggled drugs seized, followed by ketamine and amphetamine.

In another development, KLIA Customs officers nabbed four drug traffickers from India, one of whom was a woman, on three consecutive days last week.

The drugs were found sealed in secret compartments of the suspects' luggage.

The suspects had arrived on flights from Mumbai, Bodhgaya and Bangalore.

The biggest bust was made last Friday, involving RM902,500 worth of syabu hidden in the luggage of a 38-year-old technician from Mumbai.

The entire haul was worth RM10.5 million.

KLIA Customs Department director Badaruddin Mohamed Rafik (left) and 1st Senior assistant director of Customs Enforcement Division Zahari Abdullah with some of the seized drugssome of the drugs seized at the airport this year. Pic by Fariz Iswadi Ismail