KUALA LUMPUR: There has been a worrying surge in drug smuggling cases via couriers, with 420 incidents reported in the first nine months of this year.
Customs Department deputy director-general (enforcement and compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad, in revealing the disturbing trend, said university students were among those driving the numbers by buying drugs online.
These drugs, he said, were smuggled in from Europe and Thailand.
"We saw an increase in the number of cases involving university students who bought drugs online and imported the items via air parcel.
"It comes in various shapes depending on the types of drugs, sometimes in the form of leaves, pills or capsules.
"However, because it comes in very small quantities and without scanner machines, it can easily evade detection," he told the New Sunday Times.
Sazali said to address the issue, the department was looking at buying eight air parcels (a type of scanner) that would be placed in all international airports.
"Earlier this year, the department acquired rentals worth RM2 million for five years to equip air parcels at all international airports to curb smuggling via courier services.
"The air parcels are expected to be fully operational in January 2024."
Sazali said five air parcels had been located at the Sarawak International Airport, incurring a cost of about RM3.5 million, which was funded by the state government.