A male student from a private higher education institution (IPTS) was arrested after allegedly acting as a transporter for a drug syndicate, attempting to smuggle 14.63 kilogrammes of cannabis flowers worth RM1.17 million from a neighbouring country into Malaysia.
Kedah Deputy Police Chief Baderulhisham Baharudin said the 24-year-old suspect was detained during an inspection at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex on Monday.
The suspect was stopped while travelling in a pickup truck, and a subsequent search uncovered 13 black plastic packages believed to contain cannabis flowers.
“The total weight of the cannabis flowers seized was 14,630.76 grammes. The drugs were concealed beneath the rear passenger seat of the vehicle,” he said during a press conference at the Kedah Police Contingent Headquarters.
Further investigations revealed that the suspect, who is from Rawang, Selangor, tested positive for cannabis use. However, police checks found that he had no prior criminal record.
Authorities estimated that the seized drugs could have supplied approximately 73,150 drug users.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect was acting as a transporter for a smuggling syndicate operating from Dannok, Thailand, with the drugs intended for distribution to several locations across Malaysia.
According to Baderulhisham, the suspect claimed he became involved in the operation on May 25 after being introduced to the syndicate by a man in Dannok.
“The syndicate’s modus operandi involved obtaining drug supplies from the Dannok area, concealing them beneath the seats of the suspect’s family-owned pickup truck, and transporting them into Malaysia through the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS Complex.
“The suspect admitted that he had successfully smuggled drugs into the country on four previous occasions, delivering them to locations in Johor and Kuala Lumpur as directed by the syndicate. He claimed to have received RM4,000 for each delivery,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
The suspect has been remanded for six days until June 21 and is being held at the Jitra Police Station lock-up under the Kubang Pasu District Police Headquarters for further investigations.
