Customs expanding K9 unit to curb drug smuggling via courier

NILAI: Customs will get another 20 sniffer dogs in June to stem drug smuggling using courier services.

Customs deputy director-general (enforcement and compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad said among the breeds to be procured were labradors and German shepherds.

The canines, which would cost some RM1.9mil, would be brought in from Australia and India, among other countries.

“In the first three months of this year, we made 139 seizures involving various types of drugs weighing some 843kg and worth some RM30mil.

“Drugs brought in via courier services represented 73% of all drugs seized,” he told reporters at the Customs (Narcotics) headquarters in Kg Jijan near here on Friday (April 26).

Sazali said the procurement of the 20 dogs would double the strength of its canine unit.

“We currently have 20 dogs but we need more to effectively check the smuggling of drugs into the country,” he said.

He said in the first quarter, Customs seized 771kg of methamphetamine worth some RM26.6mil, 6.84kg of heroin (RM595,000), 8.8kg of ecstasy (RM586,400), 55kg of cannabis (RM282,500) and 1.6kg of ketamine (RM231,000).

He added that the department would also get three backscatter scanners, which use very low energy X-rays, for the same purpose.

He said these state-of-the-art scanners would also help his officers check the contents of parcels effectively.

“We have to take additional measures as more products are being shipped into the country following the ecommerce boom.

“Customs also hopes to use a system currently used by our counterparts in South Korea to ensure the contents of sealed parcels are not illegal,” he said, adding that tenders for the backscatter scanners had been submitted.

Separately, Sazali said his men seized 70kg of illicit drugs worth an estimated RM2.4mil in three operations earlier this month.

He said in the first case, they seized two boxes which had been declared as tools at the KL International Airport Cargo Complex on April 7.

He said upon checking, his men found 6kg of ketamine worth some RM300,000 packed as “Chinese herbal tea” as well as 27.6kg of methamphetamine worth some RM885,000.

In another operation on April 18, they seized three packages declared as containing trousers at a courier company in Subang Jaya.

Inside the packages was 40.2kg of methamphetamine worth some RM1.3mil, also packed as “Chinese herbal tea”.

In the third operation on Tuesday (April 23), Customs officers seized 1.26kg of cannabis worth some RM4,000 at the Pos Malaysia international hub at the KLIA cargo complex.

All three cases, which involved drugs sent via courier, were being probed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries either the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.

Sazali also appealed to the public to help Customs combat such activities, including the smuggling of tobacco and tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, promising that informants’ identities will be kept confidential.

Anyone with information on smuggling activities may call the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855 to make reports.