Customs foils RM1.49 million drug smuggling attempt at KLIA, seizes illegal imports

16 Feb 2026 • 5:41 PM MYT
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THE Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Royal Malaysian Customs Department) has thwarted three attempts to smuggle cannabis and cocaine via courier services, with the total value of the seizures estimated at RM1.49 million.

Director of Customs at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Zulkifli Muhammad, said the seizures were made during two separate operations on 5 and 28 January at the airport’s mail and courier centres.

"On 5 January, we seized two packages suspected to contain 16 kilograms of cannabis with a value of over RM1.4 million.

"Meanwhile, on 28 January, a package suspected to contain 57 grams of cocaine was also confiscated, with an estimated value of RM11,400," he said at a press conference today.

Zulkifli explained that the packages were believed to have been intended for export to two separate European countries, with the syndicate using incomplete sender identities and declaring the parcels as gifts to evade customs inspections.

In a separate development, Customs also seized over 145 kilograms of unlicensed metal at Port Klang on 19 January.

"Initial checks found that the various metals require a valid import permit to be brought into Malaysia. The gross weight of the seizure is over 145 kilograms, with a value exceeding RM200,000," he said.

Additionally, Customs raided three premises in Sentul and Petaling Jaya on 28 January suspected of selling electric vehicles (EVs) and e-bikes without valid import permits. The raids led to the confiscation of 21 units of three-wheeled EVs and e-bikes, with a total estimated value of RM83,028.

Zulkifli said the operators had been selling the vehicles online and using door-to-door delivery services to avoid detection by authorities.

He added that all cases are under investigation and further action will be taken in accordance with existing legal provisions. - February 16, 2026