KOTA KINABALU: Two West Malaysians may face the death penalty for smuggling in 10 kilogrammes of ketamine from China into the state capital recently.
Their attempt was foiled by the Customs Department upon their arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport around 7pm on Friday.
The suspects, a 26-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both from Penang, wrapped the drug up in a carbon and white paper before hiding it inside their luggages and boarded the MH385 flight via Hong Kong.
Acting Customs Department director Haji Janathan Kandok said the suspects were stopped upon their arrival due to their suspicious nature of the contents of their luggage.
“Upon checking, a team from the Customs Department found a few papers containing crystalline-like substance which were hidden inside the bags of both suspects.
“The value of the drug is estimated at RM132,483,” he told reporters at the Customs headquarters yesterday.
It is believed that both suspects had gone to Shenzhen, China before proceeding to Hong Kong by road and flew in to the state capital four days ago.
Even their plan to spend at least two days in Sabah before returning to Kuala Lumpur has been spoilt following their arrest.
Haji Janathan said both suspects are currently remanded for six days beginning Friday, and will be investigated into under Section 39B (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1952, which provides for the death penalty, upon conviction.
He also called on the people to work closely with the department and other enforcement agencies to combat drug abuse.
Meanwhile, between 2005 and this year, the department seized some 54.67 kilogrammes of drugs of various types with an estimated value of RM3.6 million.
He said for the past six years, a total of 14 people were arrested, comprising nine locals and five foreigners, with four having been convicted and sentenced to hang.
“Eight arrests were made at airports, including one at the Sandakan Airport, while the rest were made at the post office,” he said.