KLIA Customs Intercepts RM1.03 Million In Narcotics Hidden In Shoe Boxes And Toolkits

SEPANG, Oct 28  – The Royal Malaysian Customs Department at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has thwarted two separate international smuggling operations, seizing 16.39 kilograms of cannabis flowers and ketamine valued at RM1.03 million.

KLIA Customs Director Aspalila Ag. Tuah revealed during a press conference in Sepang on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, that the illicit drugs were concealed within commercial shipments passing through postal and air cargo hubs.

The initial interception occurred on October 12, 2026, at the Pos Malaysia International Mail Centre at KLIA, where enforcement officers uncovered seven airtight packages containing 7.28kg of cannabis flowers worth RM582,400 destined for export to Europe.

“KLIA Customs found airtight transparent plastic packages suspected to contain cannabis flowers hidden in boxes declared as containing shoes and toys,” Aspalila explained.

In the second operation on October 9, 2026, Customs officers impounded a cargo consignment at the KLIA Free Trade Zone containing nine aluminum packets filled with 9.114kg of ketamine valued at RM455,700.

The ketamine shipment originated from Europe and was bound for Kuala Lumpur, hidden inside cargo boxes declared as pipe wrenches and toolboxes. Both narcotics cases are being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

In a separate enforcement action on September 14, 2026, Customs officers seized two smuggled Mini Cooper S vehicles valued at RM180,000 in Sepang for lacking valid import permits and displaying forged registration plates, evading RM154,620 in import taxes and duties.

Seizure Breakdown, Smuggling Concealment Tactics, and Car Import Fraud

Key operational metrics, drug concealment methods, and vehicle impound details include:

• Cannabis Flowers Export Interception: 7.28kg of high-grade cannabis flowers (RM582,400) concealed inside shoe and toy boxes intercepted at Pos Malaysia Mail Centre on October 12, bound for Europe.
• Ketamine Import Seizure: 9.114kg of ketamine (RM455,700) packed in nine aluminum packets disguised as hardware toolkits and pipe wrenches intercepted at KLIA Free Trade Zone on October 9.
• False Shipping Documentation: Both narcotics shipments featured fake sender and recipient addresses to hinder law enforcement tracking.
• Smuggled Vehicle Seizures: Two Mini Cooper S cars worth RM180,000 impounded in Sepang on September 14 for unapproved entry and fake license plates, involving RM154,620 in unpaid customs duties under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.

–NMT