MAS steward held in Australia over RM4 million worth of drugs
KUALA LUMPUR: Australian police have detained a Malaysia Airlines cabin crew member for attempting to smuggle in heroin worth A$1.4 million (RM4.19 million).
The 33-year-old was detained at Melbourne International Airport after he was found in possession of 3.5kg of heroin upon disembarking from the aircraft.
According to an exclusive report by Australian daily The Herald Sun, the crew member caught the attention of Australian Border Force officers as he was “acting peculiar” upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur.
A witness told The Herald Sun that the man had moved towards the baggage carousel, but turned back after several minutes, as if he was wary of being caught.
Airport authorities waited until the man had claimed his luggage before detaining him, the witness said.
Investigating officers said they found 10 packages bound with sticky tape on the suspect.
“Initial tests on the packages indicated that they contain heroin,” the report said, adding that the suspect would appear in court on Aug 6.
Federal police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh confirmed the incident.
He said the suspect was arrested in May and that police were in contact with their Australian counterparts over the case.
“We are establishing how he managed to smuggle the drugs from our side,” Mohmad said.