Macau detains S’wak man with criminal record over alleged RM2.09 mln heroin smuggling attempt

File Photo/Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 6: A 24-year-old Sarawak man with a drug-related criminal record was detained by Macau authorities last month on suspicion of smuggling nearly 3kg of heroin worth approximately RM2.09 million.

According to Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Hussein Omar Khan, official information was received from the Macau police on Sunday (July 5) regarding the suspect’s arrest.

“Our checks found that the man has a criminal record of two narcotics-related offences under Section 12(2) and Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He explained that the drugs were concealed in sardine cans labelled as tuna paste, which were discovered packed together with biscuits in the suspect’s luggage upon his arrival at Macau International Airport.

Hussein added that investigations are ongoing to identify the mastermind and other syndicate members operating in Malaysia.

“Authorities are also cooperating with drug enforcement agencies in neighbouring countries, as the suspect is believed to have used a route other than KLIA to smuggle the drugs.

“The suspect did not depart from Malaysia but from a neighbouring country to the north, and the drugs are believed to have been obtained from that country,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also advised Malaysians who are travelling abroad to avoid being exploited as drug mules by paying close attention to their luggage and being fully aware of the contents of their baggage or any packages they carry.

Macau’s Judiciary Police previously announced the arrest of a Malaysian man at Macau International Airport on June 20 for allegedly attempting to smuggle 2.987kg of heroin with an estimated street value of 4.18 million Macau patacas (approximately RM2.09 million).

Investigators also seized 49 boxes of tuna biscuits, each containing two packets of biscuits and a can labelled as tuna paste. Further inspection found that several of the cans had been packed with a white powder, which was later confirmed to be heroin.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect was believed to have been recruited by a Malaysian drug trafficking syndicate and promised RM3,000 for completing the delivery.

He was allegedly instructed to collect the drugs in a Southeast Asian country before smuggling them into Macau, where they were to be handed over to contacts in a neighbouring region under the syndicate’s instructions. — DayakDaily