Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) foiled four smuggling cases involving 1.53 million white cigarettes and 60.47kg of cannabis flower in July.
The seizures, including duties and taxes, were valued at more than RM6.17 million, according to KLIA International Airport Customs director Aspalila Ag Tuah.
She said two of the cases involved cigarette smuggling at the KLIA Free Commercial Zone, while the other two involved cannabis. One of the drug seizures involved 47.8kg of cannabis worth RM3.824 million, which was discovered inside two abandoned pieces of luggage at the Lost and Found office in the International Arrival Hall of KLIA Terminal 1.
The luggage had originally been scheduled to travel on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi on July 14 but was left behind by the passenger. An X-ray scan detected suspicious images, prompting officers to conduct a further inspection that uncovered airtight plastic packages believed to contain cannabis flower.
Aspalila said another drug case on July 13 involved the seizure of 12.675kg of cannabis worth RM1.014 million, which had been concealed inside children’s toy boxes.
The drugs were found in four packages at the JKDM KLIA mail and courier centre and were believed to have been destined for export to a European country through cargo services.
She said the syndicate allegedly sealed the cannabis in airtight plastic before placing it inside toy boxes in an attempt to evade detection. Both drug cases are being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Meanwhile, Customs also foiled two attempts to smuggle 1.53 million white cigarettes on July 29 and 30, with the cigarettes, duties and taxes estimated at RM1.35 million.
In the first case, officers inspecting a warehouse at the KLIA Free Commercial Zone on July 29 discovered 410,000 suspected non-duty-paid cigarettes worth about RM102,000. The shipment, which incurred RM290,152 in duties and taxes, had arrived from a West Asian country under an air waybill.
Aspalila said the goods had been declared as clothing to conceal the actual shipment and avoid import permit requirements.
The following day, Customs found another 1.12 million white cigarettes worth RM168,000 at a warehouse in the same zone. The shipment carried duties and taxes amounting to RM786,400 and had arrived from an Asian country for transit before being sent to a country in Oceania.
This time, the shipment had allegedly been declared as “slippers” to avoid detection.
Aspalila said the companies handling the shipments in both cigarette cases had been called in to assist with investigations.
