KLIA customs seizes RM3.26mil worth of drugs, currency

2026-03-09 - 05:53

The first two cases saw the KLIA customs department detaining foreign travellers at the Terminal 1 international arrival hall for suspected offences. SEPANG: The customs department (JKDM) at KLIA foiled attempts to smuggle drugs and seized foreign currency with a total value of RM3.26 million through three separate cases in January and February this year. In the first case, JKDM KLIA director Zulkifli Muhammad said that on Jan 29, an enforcement division team, along with the passenger inspection branch (CPP 1) and the Terminal I Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), detained a Tanzanian man in his 50s at the Terminal 1 international arrival hall for suspected drug trafficking using a body packing method. “A body scan examination of the suspect found a suspicious object in the abdominal area. The man was taken to hospital for further examination. “The inspection found 101 capsules, containing a white powder suspected to be cocaine, wrapped in transparent plastic, which were extracted from the suspect’s body. The total seizure was estimated to weigh 1,629.20g with a value of approximately RM733,140,” he said in a statement today. According to Zulkifli, the suspect has been charged in court, 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 not less than 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed. In a second case, he said that on Feb 6, teams from the CPP 1 and AKPS Terminal 1 detained a Bangladeshi traveller at the Terminal I international arrival hall for allegedly bringing in foreign currency without declaration. He said an inspection of the traveller’s luggage found cash consisting of Saudi riyals, euros, and British pounds hidden in the lining of shirts. “The traveller failed to declare in the Customs Form 7 the amount of cash to be brought into Malaysia, and violated Regulation 55(1)(b) of the Customs Regulations 2019 which requires travellers wishing to bring in cash and negotiable instruments equivalent to or exceeding US$10,000 into Malaysia to declare them. “The total value of the seized currency is estimated at RM2.41 million and the case is being investigated under Section 28B of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, where if convicted of violating Subsection (1), the suspect can be fined not more than RM3 million or imprisoned for a period not exceeding five years, or both,” said Zulkifli. In the third case on Feb 10, he said an Indonesian traveller was detained at the KLIA Terminal 2 international departure hall for allegedly attempting to take out ringgit without declaration and approval from Bank Negara Malaysia. He said the traveller did not declare the amount of cash to be taken out of Malaysia and violated Regulation 55(1)(b) of the 2019 Customs Regulations. Zulkifli said the case has been handed over to JKDM’s KLIA branch for further action. “The value of the seized currency is RM120,100, and the case is being investigated under Section 28B of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Prevention Act 2001, where if convicted of violating Subsection (1), the suspect can be fined not more than RM3 million, imprisoned for a period not exceeding five years, or both,” he added.