KUALA LUMPUR: The police crackdown on drug smuggling has intensified over the past three years and along with that, a steady increase in the number of foreigners arrested in connection with drugs.

 

 

According to police statistics, 234 foreigners were nabbed for drug offences in 2007, followed by 313 in 2008 and 502 last year.

Within a two-year span, the number of such arrests had more than doubled.

City police Narcotics Department chief ACP Kang Chez Chiang said some visitors were taking advantage of the government's policy to boost tourism by bringing in drugs illegally.

"There are also foreigners who abuse their student visas to smuggle drugs," he said.

"Although this is a worrying trend, the increasing number of arrests for this offence shows police are able to curb the problem to a certain extent, with help from intelligence here and abroad."

Kang said police were working closely with their counterparts in neighbouring countries.

"In order for us to keep a check on drug smuggling, there is a need to share information on suspects and new tactics by smugglers."

Of the 502 arrested last year, Indonesians led the pack with 192, followed by those from Myanmar (162), China (27), Thailand (24) and Iran (23). The remaining 74 comprised nationals from 12 other countries.

Of last year's total, 47 were arrested under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. This means almost one in 10 arrested had smuggled drugs in considerable quantities.

Kang said high on the list of demands were synthetic drugs, such as syabu. Last year, 22.84kg of syabu with a street value of RM913,000 was seized. This is more than double the 10.35kg valued at RM414,000 seized in 2008.

Most of the foreigners arrested were men aged between 30 and 39 years.

A total of 209 men and 25 women were arrested in 2007, 281 men and 32 women in 2008 and 447 men and 55 women last year.

Kang said stricter checks at entry points into the country would help deter visitors from smuggling illegal substance.

The lavish life of a drug trafficker

 

KUALA LUMPUR: It is not uncommon for a drug trafficker to have a million ringgit, or even more, in his bank account, drive around in a luxury car, and wear expensive clothes and personal items.

These show that the drug trade is one of the most profitable businesses in the world.

Statistics for 2008 and 2009 obtained from the Kuala Lumpur Narcotics Crime Department show that assets seized from traffickers and drug mules ran into millions of ringgit and that the figures were increasing.

The assets seized by the police were largely luxury cars, followed by money in the form of cash and from bank accounts. The other items seized, though far fewer, were personal belongings of the traffickers.

Properties seized in 2009 totalled RM2,733,163 million, with seizures in 2008 valued at RM1.467,595 million. Personal belongings seized in 2008 came to RM206,580 while the following year, this figure jumped to RM594,109.

KL Narcotics Department chief ACP Kang Chez Chiang said owning a luxury car is one way these traffickers show off their wealth and status.

“These drug traffickers pick up on what they see on TV. They dream of great rides in luxury cars and expensive stuff. It is just the way they behave.”

In 2009 alone, vehicles worth RM1.452 mi l l ion were seized, compared with only RM586,000 worth seized in 2008.

The traffickers, many of whom are said to idolise Latin American drug lord Pablo Escobar, are also cash rich, with some having up to RM500,000 in hand at any time, a figure said to be "way higher" than that compared with 2008.

In 2009, a total of RM1,166,776 million were seized from them — RM792,889 in cash, RM343,058 from bank accounts and RM30,828 in other accounts. In comparison, only RM616,170 were seized the previous year.

The amount of cash taken off the traffickers at the time of their arrest in 2009 was RM330,670 and in 2008, RM184,579.

Kang said this money was largely used to widen their territories and pay small-time drug pushers. Having cash and shiny cars were not enough for these people, who also splurged on electronic gadgets, computers and jewellery. Personal items seized from these people totalled RM114,387, as against RM25,925 wor th seized a year earlier.

“Traffickers know the consequences of being caught, so they try to enjoy every moment of their lives, by indulging in luxury and expensive goods,” said Kang.