SEPANG: At first glance, an unclaimed parcel containing pasta, instant noodles and dried fish at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport cargo section was no cause for suspicion.
But when the KLIA Customs Department put it through an X-ray scanner, they found that there was more than food in the box.
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KLIA Customs director Datuk Chik Omar Chik Lim said his officers opened the unclaimed parcel, which arrived from Lagos on July 29 at about 3pm on Aug 3.
“They found ketamine packed with nine packets of macaroni,” he told reporters yesterday.
Chik Omar said the authorities were now looking for the recipient of the parcel, which had 2.548kg of ketamine worth about RM95,850.
In another case, three Indian nationals – a married couple and a woman – were arrested after landing at KLIA from Chennai on Saturday on suspicion of attempting to smuggle methamphetamine.
The husband, 42, and his wife, 34, were arrested at 7.40am for having 10.17kg of methamphetamine worth RM1.932mil, which was found hidden underneath textiles in special compartments in their two luggage bags.
He said the male suspect had entered the country 20 times since 2013 for business purposes while his wife had entered Malaysia nine times this year.
“We don’t know whether he smuggled in drugs the last 20 times he entered the country – he was undetected.
“Perhaps this was his first time bringing in the drugs,” he said.
The other woman on the same flight was arrested five minutes later after she was found with 5.115kg of methamphetamine.
The drugs worth RM971,850 was found hidden in the same manner – underneath textiles in a special compartment in her luggage bag.
Chik Omar said the 56-year-old woman had entered the country four times previously for business purposes.
When asked if the three Indian nationals were part of the same syndicate, Chik Omar said it was highly likely.
“The couple and the woman did not know each other. But they could be part of the same syndicate as they were carrying the same type and brand of luggage bags,” he said.
Chik Omar said the drugs were intended for the local market, but did not dismiss the possibility they were to be exported.
All the suspects were remanded under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.
