Fifty-five Malaysians detained overseas as drug mules in nine months, with syndicates using social media and fake job offers to recruit victims.
KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-five Malaysians were arrested overseas in the first nine months of this year for allegedly acting as drug mules.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said they comprised 50 men and five women.
The arrests took place across 16 different countries and territories, with the highest numbers in Indonesia (10), Singapore (9), Cambodia (6) and Taiwan (6).
Other locations included Thailand (5), Belgium (3), Laos (3) and Macau (3), while two suspects were arrested in Hong Kong and South Korea.
Single arrests were made in the Philippines, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Myanmar and Norway.
“The use of members of the public as drug mules is a deeply concerning and growing trend that the NCID is addressing with the utmost seriousness,” he said.
Drug syndicates are constantly seeking new victims and are willing to exploit anyone regardless of age, occupation or background.
Hussein explained that syndicates recruit victims through social media and fake job advertisements targeting young people, job seekers and individuals with unstable incomes.
Victims are lured with promises of lucrative payments ranging from RM1,000 to RM10,000, often including free flight tickets and accommodation.
“All of these offers are merely bait to deceive victims into carrying luggage or packages that actually contain dangerous drugs,” he emphasised.
Syndicates conceal drugs in common items like luggage, electronics and food, using courier services and high-risk techniques like ‘body packing’.
Primary smuggling destinations include the United Kingdom, several European countries and several East Asian nations.
Syndicates are increasingly using regional airports as transit points for their operations.
“The types of drugs commonly smuggled include methamphetamine (syabu), MDMA (ecstasy), cannabis and cocaine,” he said.
Hussein urged the public to remain vigilant and not be deceived by fake offers, reporting any suspicious proposals to police immediately.
“The excuse of ‘not knowing the contents of the luggage’ is not accepted by most countries with strict drug laws,” he warned.
Countries with strict drug laws can impose penalties including the death penalty or life imprisonment for drug offences.
Members of the public with information on drug abuse or trafficking can report via the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222. – Bernama
