SEPANG, Oct 24 — A recent operation to thwart a drugs smuggling attempt landed the police its largest bust at KL International Airport (KLIA) with the seizure of a massive 254kg of ketamine worth an estimated RM12.7 million.
The Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division (NCID) bust at the KLIA cargo complex could have left a staggering 850,000 users hooked.
Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) members stormed the KLIA airside on Thursday after a tip-off from Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigations Bureau (MJIB).
The drugs, declared as “garments” and bound for Taipei, were discovered inside six boxes sealed within 248 green tea packets.
Mohmad Salleh said the smuggling attempt was orchestrated by the same syndicate involved in a similar seizure in Taiwan last month.
On Sept 27, Taiwanese authorities seized 30.5kg of heroin worth RM30.5 million stashed inside 90 Thermos flasks.
“We believe they were the same syndicate as the sender and recipient addresses were similar to the one in Taiwan.
“They are taking advantage of the lucrative drugs business in Taiwan where prices are 10 times more,” he said.
“A kilogramme of ketamine worth RM50,000 in Malaysia could be worth RM500,000 in Taiwan.”
He said the difference in the market price was due to fluctuations in the supply and demand of the drug in the region.
Police are currently tracking down the syndicate members and no arrests have been made so far.
Mohmad Salleh said cross-boundary cooperation with the MJIB began in 2012 and have led to five major narcotics busts to date.
A total of 73 individuals — 54 locals and 19 foreigners — have been detained since the cooperation began.
Over the period, authorities also seized 1,205kg of drugs, mostly pills, worth RM103 million.
