By Zaki MS
IPOH – Police have foiled an attempt to smuggle 19.04 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis flowers worth an estimated RM1.52 million at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (LTSAS) here on November 8.
The success followed the action of LTSAS Auxiliary Police personnel, who detected a suspicious suitcase during an inspection at the check-in counter at approximately 6.20 am.
Further checks led to the arrest of a 29-year-old Singaporean man who was scheduled to board a flight from Ipoh to Singapore before continuing his journey to London.
An inspection of the suitcase uncovered 36 transparent plastic packages containing dried plant material suspected to be cannabis flowers.
Perak Police Chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the suspect and seized items were subsequently handed over to the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) at the Perak Police Contingent Headquarters for further investigation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was believed to have been deceived through an online job offer promising lucrative payment for transporting luggage containing counterfeit luxury-branded goods to London.
The syndicate’s modus operandi involved exploiting individuals as ‘drug mules’ to transport drugs overseas through commercial flights.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the punishment of death or life imprisonment and not less than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
Police reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts to combat drug trafficking and smuggling activities to protect the public and future generations.
