Kuala lumpur: Customs officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) have successfully thwarted attempts to smuggle cash and drugs, along with seizing smuggled liquor, with a cumulative value of nearly RM1.12 million in four different incidents last month.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, KLIA Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad detailed that the first incident occurred on April 2. In collaboration with the Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit of Malaysia Airports, customs officers detained an Indonesian traveler at the Satellite Building, Terminal 1, for allegedly attempting to take RM129,500 in cash out of the country without declaration. The cash was found concealed inside a black plastic bag in the traveler's luggage, who failed to declare it on Customs Form No. 7, thereby breaching Regulation 55(1)(b) of the Customs Regulations 2019. The traveler was required to secure prior written approval from Bank Negara Malaysia before taking the money out of the country. This case is being probed under Section 28B of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
In the second incident, officers raided a premises in Seri Kembangan at 7.15 pm on April 23, discovering 17.043 liters of various brands of alcoholic beverages. These were valued at an estimated RM221,566, with unpaid duties amounting to RM430,835. This case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 74(1)(d) of the Excise Act 1976.
The third and fourth incidents occurred on April 24 and 27 at the international departure gate of KLIA Terminal 1. Zulkifli reported that three local individuals were detained for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country. On April 24 at 9.20 am, a local man was detained before boarding a flight to Hong Kong after X-ray screening of his luggage revealed suspicious images suspected to be drugs. Further inspection uncovered ketamine weighing 3.6719 kilograms, valued at RM183,595. This case has been handed over to the KLIA Enforcement Division for further investigation.
On April 27, at 5.17 pm, two local women were detained as they were about to board a flight to Taipei. Their luggage, upon X-ray screening, also revealed suspicious images believed to be drugs. A search uncovered ketamine weighing 4.4836 kilograms, valued at RM224,180. Both cases are being scrutinized under Section 39B and 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.