Customs foils bid to smuggle in RM15.6mil worth of ketamine

SEREMBAN: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department believes it has intercepted an international drug trafficking attempt following the seizure of some 260kg of ketamine worth an estimated RM15.6mil.

Its deputy director-general (Enforcement & Compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad said the drugs were found concealed in five drums and abandoned at a dead end of a road in a residential area in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur on Nov 21.

“Based on information on the drum labels, the drugs were apparently flown from the Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, India to KL International Airport.

“The consignment was declared as chemicals which did not require an import permit from the local authorities,” he told reporters at the Customs (Narcotics) headquarters here on Friday (Dec 1).

Sazali said the quantity of drugs was enough for 1.3 million drug abusers.

He said Customs was looking for two individuals to assist in its investigations.

They were Thangarajh Thangavaloo, 30; from Rumah Pangsa, Jalan Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur; and Selvaraj Solomon, 36, from Taman Esplanad, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

In a separate case, Sazali said the department seized 12kg of methamphetamine worth some RM400,000 in an operation in Sijangkang, Selangor on Nov 8.

“My men detained a foreigner in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant and upon checking his car, we found the drugs in a black bag on the back seat.

“We also seized a car,” he said.

Sazali said preliminary investigations revealed that the drug was to be smuggled out by sea from Port Dickson to a neighbouring country.

The seized drugs could have been used by some 60,000 individuals.

The suspect was charged in court on Nov 22 under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Act, he added.

Sazali appealed to anyone with information on smuggling activities, including illicit drugs, tobacco and alcoholic beverages, to contact the department at 1800-88-8855.

The identity of the informant would be kept confidential.