Major drug bust: Sazali showing off the seized ketamine and the drums they were kept in at the Customs (Narcotics) headquarters in Nilai. — Bernama
SEREMBAN: Following the seizure of some 260kg of ketamine worth an estimated RM15.6mil, the Customs Department believes it has crippled the operations of an international drug trafficking syndicate.
Customs deputy director-general (enforcement and compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad said the drugs were found concealed in five drums and abandoned at the dead end of a road in a residential area in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur, on Nov 21.
“Based on the information contained in the labels found on the drums, the drugs were apparently flown in from the Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, India, and the KL International Airport was its final destination.
“The consignment was declared as containing chemicals, which did not require an import permit from local authorities,” he told reporters at the Customs (Narcotics) headquarters in Nilai.
Sazali said based on the volume of drugs, an estimated 1.3 million individuals had been saved from drug abuse.
He added that Customs is looking for two local individuals with addresses in Kuala Lumpur to assist in its investigation.
They are Thangarajh Thangavaloo, 30, from Rumah Pangsa, Jalan Pandan Indah, and Selvaraj Solomon, 36, from Taman Esplanad, Bukit Jalil.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Separately, Sazali said Customs also managed to seize 12kg of methamphetamine worth some RM400,000 in an operation in Sijangkang, Selangor, on Nov 8.
“My men detained a foreigner at a parking lot of a fast-food restaurant, and upon checking his car found the drugs in a black bag kept on the back seat,” he said, adding that they also seized the car during the operation.
Sazali said the preliminary investigation revealed that the drugs were to be smuggled out by sea from Port Dickson to a neighbouring country.
The seized drugs could have been used by some 60,000 individuals.
The suspect, he said, was charged in court on Nov 22 under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Act.
He appealed to those with information on smuggling activities involving illicit drugs, tobacco, alcoholic beverages and others to contact the department at 1800-88-8855.
The identity of the informant will be kept confidential, he said.
