Drug smuggling via KLIA: 14 Malaysians arrested abroad since January, say police
SHAH ALAM, Aug 11 — A total of 14 Malaysians have been arrested overseas for alleged drug smuggling activities after departing on outbound flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) between January and July this year, federal narcotics police said today.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Commissioner Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the 14 Malaysians comprised 11 men and three women, with Taiwan recording the highest number of arrests at six.
The remaining arrests involved three in Indonesia, two in the Philippines and one each in Hong Kong, Macau and the Maldives, with a total of 73.17kg of drugs worth RM5.5 million seized.
In contrast, Hussein said federal police successfully thwarted drug smuggling activities at KLIA during the same period, arresting 51 individuals and seizing a total of 1.2 tonnes of drugs worth RM97 million.
The majority of those arrested held British passports (14 people), followed by Malaysians (12), Singaporeans (eight) and French nationals (five).
Indonesia, Hong Kong and Japan each accounted for two nationals, while Thailand, Ireland, Slovakia, India, Portugal and Uganda each accounted for one.
“So, if we compare both statistics — those who ‘escaped’ and were arrested overseas — it accounts for about seven per cent of the total arrests we made in foiling drug smuggling attempts at KLIA, which shows that we are doing a good job,” he told a press conference at the Selangor contingent headquarters.
Hussein said the Royal Malaysia Police has consistently highlighted drug seizures at press conferences to raise public awareness and prevent Malaysians from falling victim to syndicates offering various travel incentives or payments to lure them into transporting drugs.
