PUTRAJAYA: Increase surveillance and stop Malaysia from being a major transit point for drug trafficking as this gives the country a bad name, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The Deputy Finance Minister said that informants and “clean” Customs officers played a crucial role in cracking down on illicit drug smuggling.
“I thank the Customs Department for managing to seize the largest cocaine seizure of this year on June 12 at Port Klang. I also thank the informants who have helped us to stop traffickers, as this gives a bad name to Malaysia as a major transit point for drug trafficking in this region,” said Ahmad.
On June 12, the Customs Department seized more than 300kg of illicit drugs, believed to be cocaine originating from a South American country worth some RM60mil in an operation at Port Klang.
The drugs were stashed in soya bean sacks and is believed to be the biggest cocaine seizure this year.
“Informants are critical as without them, it would be difficult to detect the hidden drugs that were in transit through Malaysia.
“For example, the 336kg of drugs worth RM760mil hidden in solar panels that were seized in Australia used Malaysia as a transit location. We need to be more diligent in our crackdowns,” said Ahmad.
On March 13, Australian authorities seized heroin estimated to be worth AUD268.8mil (RM789.56mil) from a shipping container from Malaysia after it docked in Brisbane Port.
Ahmad also said that informants are still rewarded but the reward system for Customs officers have been stopped as it was part of their job.
“As Customs officers, this is their duty which they are paid for and there is no need for such reward. For informants, we will still continue.
“I want the Customs to increase the surveillance and checks so that such activities can be stopped.
“As to the possibility of bribery among Customs officers, I would not want to accuse them of such. My opinion is that if indeed there is bribery, then such major hauls would not be able to be seized by the customs.
“As to the possibility of bribery among Customs officers, I would not want to accuse them of such. My opinion is that if indeed there is bribery, then such major hauls (by the Customs) would not have been successful.
“I would also like to call upon Customs officers to uphold integrity to carry out their duties diligently,” said Ahmad.
He also called on the Public Service Department to increase its intake for Customs officers as there is still a shortage of officers at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes and state borders, namely the borders of Sabah and Sarawak.
Ahmad said this to reporters after officiating the Authorised Economic Operator national parent meeting attended by the Customs Department officers and various government agencies and bodies which were involved in movement of goods here on June 13.
The meeting is the first physical meeting to be held this year.
At the same media conference, Deputy Director General of Customs (Enforcement and Compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad explained that the Customs Department work closely with others through various international networks.
He said that Malaysia as part of the Asean Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group (CECWG) work hand in hand with others to share information on the modus operandi of traffickers.
“Such intelligence sharing and an alert-notice system assist us in crackdowns on the trafficking of drugs and other illegal activities,” said Sazali.
