ID :
19373
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 13:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19373
The shortlink copeid
INTERNATIONAL DRUG KINGPINS SWITCH TO FILIPINAS FOR DEPLOYMENT AS DRUG MULES
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- International drug kingpins appear to have switched tactics to thwart detection by law enforcement agencies.
They are now using Filipinas over local women, for deployment as drug mules
(couriers) overseas.
This was uncovered by the Federal police when they detained 19 foreigners
and seized 1.6kg of heroin and 540 grammes of cocaine worth a total of RM1.3
million in a series of operations today, to facilitate investigations into drug
trafficking in the country.
The suspects comprised nine African nationals, eight Filipinas, a Filipino
and a Sri Lankan woman.
Federal Anti-Narcotics Department director Datuk Zulhasnan Najib Baharudin
said the police uncovered this switch from local women to Filipinas for
deployment as drug mules during initial investigations into the anti-drug
operations.
He told a press conference that in the first raid at 5.05am, police
detained an African national and a Filipina at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in
Sepang.
Seized from the couple was a sling bag containing cocaine weighing 540 grammes
and 640 grammes believed to be heroin.
Zulhasnan said that 25 minutes later, the police raided a condominium unit
in Jalan Ipoh and detained eight African nationals, a Filipino and a Filipina.
From them, 115 packets of heroin weighing 992 grammes were seized.
At a separate raid between 5am dn 9am in the Klang valley, Zulhasnan said
eight African nationals, six Filipinas and a Sri Lankan woman -- suspected to be
members of an internatiobnal drug trafficking syndicate -- were arrested.
"African nationals who once used local women as drug couriers are now
targeting Filipinas who stay in Malaysia to carry out the task.
"Unlike previously, we find that local women are being used less by the
drug
syndicates or jailed overseas for smuggling drugs," he added.
A Proton Wira car, US$27,157 (US1 = RM3.45) and RM19,443 were seized from
the foreigners.
Meanwhile, a tactic used by two Indian nationals to conceal 19.7kg
of ketamine in 50 thick ledger books inside four of five bags was uncovered by
police.
The street value of the drug was about RM300,000.
The suspects, aged 27 and 34, had just arrived at the KL International
Airport from a neighbouring country at 8.50am Friday.
Zulhasnan said the suspects were used as drug mules by a drug trafficking
syndicate.
He said statistics involving the number of Malaysians arrested overseas for
drug trafficking this year had dropped.
Last year, 132 people were detained for drug-related activities.
Most of those who were detained overseas were women, said Zulhasnan, adding
that they were currently serving time in Australia, Spain, Brazil and
Taiwan.
They are now using Filipinas over local women, for deployment as drug mules
(couriers) overseas.
This was uncovered by the Federal police when they detained 19 foreigners
and seized 1.6kg of heroin and 540 grammes of cocaine worth a total of RM1.3
million in a series of operations today, to facilitate investigations into drug
trafficking in the country.
The suspects comprised nine African nationals, eight Filipinas, a Filipino
and a Sri Lankan woman.
Federal Anti-Narcotics Department director Datuk Zulhasnan Najib Baharudin
said the police uncovered this switch from local women to Filipinas for
deployment as drug mules during initial investigations into the anti-drug
operations.
He told a press conference that in the first raid at 5.05am, police
detained an African national and a Filipina at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in
Sepang.
Seized from the couple was a sling bag containing cocaine weighing 540 grammes
and 640 grammes believed to be heroin.
Zulhasnan said that 25 minutes later, the police raided a condominium unit
in Jalan Ipoh and detained eight African nationals, a Filipino and a Filipina.
From them, 115 packets of heroin weighing 992 grammes were seized.
At a separate raid between 5am dn 9am in the Klang valley, Zulhasnan said
eight African nationals, six Filipinas and a Sri Lankan woman -- suspected to be
members of an internatiobnal drug trafficking syndicate -- were arrested.
"African nationals who once used local women as drug couriers are now
targeting Filipinas who stay in Malaysia to carry out the task.
"Unlike previously, we find that local women are being used less by the
drug
syndicates or jailed overseas for smuggling drugs," he added.
A Proton Wira car, US$27,157 (US1 = RM3.45) and RM19,443 were seized from
the foreigners.
Meanwhile, a tactic used by two Indian nationals to conceal 19.7kg
of ketamine in 50 thick ledger books inside four of five bags was uncovered by
police.
The street value of the drug was about RM300,000.
The suspects, aged 27 and 34, had just arrived at the KL International
Airport from a neighbouring country at 8.50am Friday.
Zulhasnan said the suspects were used as drug mules by a drug trafficking
syndicate.
He said statistics involving the number of Malaysians arrested overseas for
drug trafficking this year had dropped.
Last year, 132 people were detained for drug-related activities.
Most of those who were detained overseas were women, said Zulhasnan, adding
that they were currently serving time in Australia, Spain, Brazil and
Taiwan.
