PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) foiled two attempts to smuggle ketamine and ketum leaves, worth RM6.19 million, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Free Trade Zone on March 15 and 16.
Central Zone Customs assistant director-general Datuk Zulkurnain Mohamed Yusuf said the first case on March 15 involved 54.36 kg of ketamine valued at RM2.45 million, while in the second case on March 16, 747.73kg of ketum leaves worth RM3.74 million were discovered.
He said on March 15, at 3 am, KLIA Central Zone Enforcement Unit III officers carried out inspection on 28 polystyrene boxes, declared as frozen seafood bound for Hong Kong.
Upon inspection, 190 lumps wrapped with black plastic, which contained white powder, were found hidden in catfish (patin) belly.
“The substance, believed to be ketamine, were hidden in such a way to deceive the authority, with Hong Kong International Airport as their final destination,” he said in a statement here, today.
Zulkurnain said a 60-year old local man was detained and the case is investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Meanwhile on March 16, at 2.35pm, the team went through 39 boxes, declared as ‘Mitragyna Speciose Leaf Powder’ from Indonesia, where they found transparent packets filled with green leaves believed to be ketum.
Following the discovery, a local was arrested and the case was investigated under Section 135 (1) (a) of the Customs Act 1967. - Bernama
