A 29-year-old Singaporean man suspected of smuggling drugs through an airport in Malaysia has been arrested at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh, Perak. Police seized about 19kg of cannabis buds from his checked baggage, with an estimated street value of RM1.5 million (about S$473,000).
According to The Star (《星报》), Perak police chief Mohamad Alwi told a press conference on Tuesday (10 November) that the unemployed man was arrested at 6.20am on Sunday (8 November) during a baggage check by auxiliary police at the airport.
Police found 36 plastic packets containing a total of 19.04kg of dried cannabis buds in his checked baggage.
Preliminary investigations showed that the suspect planned to transport the drugs to London in the UK via Singapore. He allegedly took on the drug courier job through a website promising substantial payment.
Mohamad Alwi said the suspect arrived in Malaysia on 7 November, flying first to Kuala Lumpur before checking into a hotel in Kajang. Police believe he collected the drugs in Kajang before taking a private-hire car to Ipoh airport.
He said drug trafficking syndicates now preferred to smuggle drugs through airports with lower passenger traffic to avoid attracting the attention of law enforcement officers.
The suspect has been remanded for seven days from Monday (9 November), and police are investigating under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment and caning.
