RM18mil in drugs confiscated

Tanjung Pelepas Port raid brings total narcotics haul to over 3,000kg

JOHOR BARU: The Customs Department seized some 300kg of drugs worth RM18mil, bringing this year’s total haul so far to a shocking 3,110kg or over three tonnes of narcotics.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy said during the 2pm raid at the Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP) on Thursday, two men were also arrested.

“The drugs, believed to be crystal methamphetamine, were found inside 30 units of water filters, with each unit containing a block of drugs that weighed about 10kg,” he told reporters at Menara Kastam here yesterday.

Subromaniam said the raid was carried out by the department’s narcotics unit after they inspected a 20-foot container at PTP.

Closer inspection revealed that the container was carrying two water tanks, 50 empty carton boxes and 30 units of water filter.

The block of drugs were found inside the water filters that were also filled with sand to avoid detection, said Subromaniam.

Initial investigations, he said, showed that Malaysia was a transit point for the drugs as these had been brought through Port Klang before arriving at PTP.

Subromaniam said they arrested the two men, aged 30 and 35, on the same day, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

He said there had been a huge leap in the volume of drugs seized by the department this year compared to 2017.

In 2017, he said the total quantity of seized drugs was 812kg but this year, it had grown to 3,110kg.

“We also arrested 78 people this year compared to 44 previously.

“The total number of cases have also increased to 79 cases, worth a total of RM141mil, from 51 cases worth some RM92mil previously.”