RM30m Customs ‘ HIT’
SEREMBAN: Two Customs officers were among five suspects arrested after RM30 million worth of drugs – comprising 50kg of heroin and ketamine – were carted away by robbers from the department's antinarcotics division warehouse in Kampung Jijan, Nilai, near here early on Sunday.
Customs Director-General Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy said yesterday the drugs were seized in an anti- narcotics operation at Westport, Port Klang recently and had been taken to the warehouse in a container for storage.
He said a police report was lodged soon after the robbery and police have arrested five people – two Customs officers, two security guards and a civilian.
It is believed that part of the stolen drugs have been recovered by police with the arrests.
A six-day remand order has been obtained to detain the suspects for further investigations.
"We have conducted an internal investigation and it is highly likely this is an inside job involving officers f r o m wi t h i n t h e Cus t o ms Department," said Subromaniam.
“Apart from police action, we will also take stern action such as expulsion if our officers are found to be involved in the case. I have all the confidence in the police force in solving this case and recovering all the stolen narcotics.”
He said the department has stationed its tactical team – the Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault (Cobra) – and intensified patrols at the warehouse.
Similar security measures are also in place at other Customs stores nationwide.
The robbery gang made up of about a dozen men had held up security guards at the warehouse at
about 3am on Sunday.
After assaulting and tying up the guards, the robbers loaded up the boxes of drugs onto pick-up trucks they had arrived in and fled.
Police were alerted to the case more than two hours later after the guards managed to free themselves.
A special task force was assembled soon after by state police and investigators sprung into action making their first arrest just hours after the heist.
Negri Sembilan police chief Commissioner Datuk Noor Azam Jamaludin said police will give more details in a press conference today.
"I am unable to comment further on the case as it might affect our ongoing investigations," he said when contacted by theSun yesterday.