Malaysian authorities seize RM7.7 million worth of unregistered injectable medicines from two Chinese nationals arriving from Bangladesh at KLIA.
SEPANG: Authorities have seized RM7.735 million worth of unregistered injectable medicines, believed to contain tirzepatide, from the luggage of two Chinese nationals arriving separately from Bangladesh at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) KLIA Commander Mohd Safrie Zakaria stated that the two cases were detected at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 on April 26 and 27, respectively.
“For the first case at Terminal 1, the seizure was made on April 26, at 3.30am.
“An inspection of the luggage belonging to a Chinese national arriving from Bangladesh revealed 3,300 units of injectable medicine labelled ‘Tirzide’,” Safrie told reporters during a press conference at the Airport Management Centre today.
Safrie stressed that the products are suspected to contain tirzepatide, a controlled poison under the First Schedule of the Poisons Act 1952, and were not registered for use in Malaysia. The first haul is estimated to be worth RM2.335 million.
In the second case, a Chinese woman arriving from Bangladesh was intercepted at Terminal 2 at about 5.30am on April 27.
“Checks on her luggage revealed 8,840 units of injectable medicine suspected to be unregistered, bearing the labels ‘Tirzide’ and ‘Tirzepe’,” Safrie added. This second seizure was valued at RM5.4 million, bringing the total haul to 12,140 units.
The illicit shipments were uncovered after airport scanners detected suspicious “needle-like” images within the luggage.
Safrie described that the medicines are believed to have originated from Bangladesh, with the enforcement team acting on specific profiling and intelligence-sharing between agencies.
“We allow small quantities for personal use, but when such large volumes are brought in, we must seize them,” Safrie said, adding that the luggage in both cases consisted almost entirely of the injectables.
Preliminary investigations suggest the suspects claimed the products were destined for China.
However, records showed both individuals were scheduled to remain in Malaysia for more than 30 days, leading authorities to suspect the goods were intended for the local market.
Safrie clarified that while these injectable medicines are primarily linked to anti-diabetic treatments, they are increasingly marketed illegally for weight loss.
“Legally available versions in Malaysia are usually sold in pen form, with one pen containing four doses and costing between RM1,200 and RM1,800.
“In contrast, the seized products were in syringe form, representing a single dose with an estimated street value of RM300 to RM400 per syringe,” he added.
The cases have been referred to the Health Ministry’s Pharmacy Enforcement Division.
Investigations are being conducted under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, the Sale of Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952 for the importation of unregistered products and poisons without a valid licence.
