Singaporean lured by RM12,685 job offer arrested, remanded seven days over RM1.5m cannabis haul at Ipoh Airport
IPOH, Nov 10 — A S$4,000 (RM12,685) job to deliver a package landed a 29-year-old Singaporean in trouble after police found RM1.5 million worth of dried cannabis leaves in his luggage at the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here on Sunday.
Perak police chief Commissioner Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the suspect had been tricked by a syndicate into believing he was transporting a package containing counterfeit luxury-branded goods.
“Preliminary investigations found that the suspect had come across a job offer through a website promising lucrative payment to transport luggage allegedly containing counterfeit luxury-branded goods to London, England,” he told a press conference at the Perak Police Headquarters here.
He said that the syndicate was believed to have targeted less busy airports, concealing drugs in passengers’ luggage to avoid detection by the authorities.
“If the luggage passes through Customs at these airports, the items will then be sent as cargo and eventually reach their intended destination,” he said.
Mohd Alwi said the suspect was arrested after auxiliary police personnel at the airport detected a suspicious piece of luggage during a baggage inspection at the check-in counter at about 6.20am on November 8.
He said the suspect was scheduled to fly from Ipoh to Singapore, where he would transit before continuing to London.
“Further inspection of the Caggioni-branded zippered suitcase found 36 transparent plastic packets containing dried leaves suspected to be cannabis flower.
“The drugs weighed approximately 19,040 grammes and had an estimated street value of RM1,523,200,” he said.
Mohd Alwi said the amount of drugs seized could have been used by about 47,900 addicts.
He said the suspect and the seized items were subsequently handed over to the Perak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) for further investigation.
“A preliminary urine screening found that the suspect tested negative for drugs, while checks also found that he had no previous criminal record,” he said.
He also added that the suspect, who is currently unemployed, had been remanded for seven days since November 8.
Mohd Alwi said the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“If convicted, the offence carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping of not less than 12 strokes,” he said.
He said the seizure was the result of continuous intelligence-gathering efforts by the NCID, with cooperation from members of the public.
“We will not compromise with any party involved in drug trafficking.
“Possessing, distributing or protecting drug-related activities is a serious offence under the law,” he said.
