Johor bahru: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Johor has busted a drug smuggling syndicate through courier services with the seizure of 13.178 kilogrammes of cannabis flowers worth RM1,292,326 in two separate cases around Senai and Johor Bahru in November.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johor State Customs director Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi detailed that in the first case on November 26, acting on information from the Johor JKDM Narcotics Branch, a team foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs out via courier services around Senai. During the operation at about 12.45 pm, a thorough inspection of two parcel boxes addressed for delivery to the United Kingdom found 24 packages suspected of containing cannabis flowers with an estimated weight of 13.043 kilogrammes and a seized value of RM1,278,214. A 21-year-old local man was charged at the Kulai Magistrate's Court on December 3, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping if convicted.
In the second case on November 19 at about 5.10 pm, the Narcotics Branch of the JKDM Enforcement Division arrested a 23-year-old Filipino man after detecting and tracking a suspicious package addressed to an apartment around Johor Bahru. An inspection of the package found five small transparent plastic packages containing plants suspected of being cannabis flowers with an estimated weight of 135 grammes and a seized value of RM14,112. The suspect was charged at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court on November 25, and the case is being investigated under Section 6 and Section 39A(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Both syndicates are believed to use courier services as a modus operandi to import and export dangerous drugs to avoid detection by the authorities. Aminul Izmeer emphasized the importance of public cooperation in combating smuggling activities, which not only harm the country in terms of revenue leakage but also threaten the safety and well-being of the people.
In addition to these cases, Aminul Izmeer reported that the Johor JKDM has cracked down on 23 cases involving drugs and narcotics from January 1 to November 30, 2025, with a total value of RM4,654,916.32. The public is encouraged to report information related to smuggling activities by contacting the Customs Toll-Free Line 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest customs office, with assurances that informants' identities will remain confidential.