M’sian detained in Macau over heroin smuggling bid has criminal record, say cops

Bukit Aman narcotics criminal investigation department director Hussein Omar Khan said authorities are cooperating with drug enforcement agencies in neighbouring countries. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian detained by Macau authorities last month on suspicion of smuggling nearly 3kg of heroin worth approximately RM2.09 million has been confirmed to have a drug-related criminal record in Malaysia.

Bukit Aman narcotics criminal investigation department director Hussein Omar Khan said the department received official information from the Macau police yesterday regarding the arrest of the 24-year-old man from Sarawak.

“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 today.

Hussein said 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.

Investigations are ongoing to identify the mastermind and other members of the syndicate 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.

Hussein advised Malaysians travelling abroad to pay close attention to their luggage and be fully aware of the contents of their baggage or any packages they carry to avoid being exploited as drug mules.

Macau’s judiciary police previously said that a Malaysian man was arrested at Macau International Airport on June 20 after allegedly attempting to smuggle 2.987kg of heroin worth approximately 4.18 million Macau patacas (about RM2.09 million).

Authorities also found 49 boxes of tuna biscuits, each containing two packets of biscuits and one can labelled as tuna paste. Inspections revealed that several of the cans had been filled with a white powder, which was later confirmed to be heroin.

Preliminary investigations found that the man was likely recruited by a drug trafficking syndicate in Malaysia. He was promised RM3,000 upon completing the assignment. He was also instructed to collect the drugs in a Southeast Asian country before smuggling them into Macau, where they were to be delivered to a nearby region according to the syndicate’s instructions.