Police arrest man at Penang airport over RM3.2m cannabis bound for London; RM1.05m drugs seized in Jelutong

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 2 — Police arrested a local man in possession of 40 kilogrammes (kg) of cannabis buds, valued at RM3.2 million, which were allegedly being smuggled to London. The arrest took place during a raid at Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas on October 18.

Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng said the 28-year-old man, who hails from Miri, Sarawak, was apprehended at about 5pm while in the airport’s waiting area and the drugs were discovered during an inspection of his luggage.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the man, acting as a ‘drug mule,’ claimed he was instructed by an individual to transport the drugs to London. It is believed that this was the suspect’s first time participating in cross-border drug smuggling via air travel.

“The suspect allegedly acted as a courier, receiving a payment of RM9,000 for the trip,” he said during a press conference at the Penang contingent police headquarters here today.

He added that an initial urine screening test indicated that the man who is currently unemployed tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine. A background check further revealed that he has two prior criminal records.

In a separate case, Lim said police arrested three individuals, including a Chinese national woman, during a raid at an apartment in Jelutong here yesterday evening. Various types of drugs with an estimated value of RM1.05 million were seized.

He explained that police first apprehended a 26-year-old local man in front of the apartment’s elevator, discovering a 1.3-gramme (g) packet of ketamine in his possession. Subsequently, they arrested a 40-year-old Chinese national woman on the 10th floor of the apartment, who is believed to be involved in the processing and distribution of drugs.

“A search of one of the rooms in the apartment uncovered seven kilogrammes (kg) of methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) powder, Erimin-5 pills (35g), ketamine (20g), and 0.015 litre of liquid methamphetamine (‘syabu’). Additionally, authorities seized equipment for repackaging the MDMA, including a digital scale and packaging materials,” he said.

Lim noted that the woman is believed to have been responsible for repackaging the MDMA, which was then sold to customers who would arrive at the apartment to collect the drugs, following the procurement of supplies from a distribution network drugs.

He said another local man, aged 44 believed to have arrived to purchase drugs was also arrested in front of the apartment.

He added that urine screening tests revealed two of the suspects tested positive for ketamine, while another tested positive for cannabis; a check of their past records showed that all three had prior records related to criminal and narcotics offences.

They have all been remanded to assist with the investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. — Bernama