An attempt to smuggle drugs by sea was foiled after two men threw two suitcases and a backpack into the waters off Pulau Telur, leading to the seizure of 35.95 kilograms of methamphetamine worth more than RM1.796 million.
Kedah Customs director Wan Marini Wan Hamzah said the incident occurred at about 7pm on 14 June while officers from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s Tanjung Dawai Marine Enforcement Branch were conducting a routine patrol in the area.
During the operation, officers spotted a suspicious unregistered fishing boat near Pulau Telur in Yan and moved in to inspect it.
However, before the boat could be stopped, the two men on board were seen throwing two suitcases and a backpack into the sea before speeding off towards international waters, where they managed to evade capture.
Customs officers later recovered the bags from the water and brought them back to the Tanjung Dawai Marine Office for inspection.
A search of the luggage uncovered 35 tea packets believed to contain methamphetamine, weighing a total of 35.95 kilograms.
Authorities believe the drugs were being smuggled out of Malaysia to a neighbouring country via sea using a fishing boat.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the suspects, identify the boat involved and determine whether the case is linked to a cross-border drug trafficking syndicate.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking, an offence punishable by death or life imprisonment, along with not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
