Drug syndicates use public as mules to smuggle cannabis to Europe, says Bukit Aman

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have identified that drug trafficking syndicates frequently employ civilians as drug mules to transport cannabis flowers to Europe due to high demand.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department Director, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, clarified that only a few pilots, and not all, are implicated in smuggling, with most European smuggling operations involving the public.

He advised caution over suspicious lucrative offers and indicated a need for enhanced security measures at entry and exit points, as these syndicates exploit various trafficking routes.

Recent arrests at Kuala Lumpur and Sultan Azlan Shah Airports underscore the ongoing battle against sophisticated smuggling networks.

BACHOK, Sept 10 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have found that drug trafficking syndicates operating by air to Europe frequently use members of the public as drug mules, particularly to transport cannabis flowers, which are in high demand on the continent.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department Director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said, however, that not all pilots arrested for involvement in drug smuggling were transporting drugs to Europe.

“As far as we know, only one or two pilots were involved. Among them was a co-pilot arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“To our knowledge, he (the co-pilot) travelled to Australia and Indonesia, not Europe. Smuggling to Europe mostly involves drug mules from the general public,” he told reporters during a press conference following a strategic visit to the Bachok Narcotics Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) today.

He said most air-based drug trafficking cases involving Europe centred on cannabis flowers due to the high demand for the illicit substance in the market.

He urged the public to be wary of offers from syndicates promising lucrative payments, including free flight tickets or holiday packages, or asking them to transport certain luggage overseas.

“Our citizens need to understand that it is unusual for someone to offer large sums of money to cover tickets, holiday packages and the like.

“So, do not get ensnared by these syndicates,” he said.

On how drug trafficking syndicates manage to bypass security controls at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Hussein said he could not elaborate as the Home Ministry is currently reviewing measures to strengthen security at all the country’s entry and exit points.

He said drug trafficking syndicates were becoming increasingly sophisticated and were exploiting various routes, including air, sea and land.

“If not by air, they use waterways, land routes and so on,” he said.

Hussein said that apart from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), PDRM had also recorded arrests linked to drug smuggling activities at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh.

Yesterday, Bernama reported that police had detained a man to assist in investigations into the drug-related arrest of a Malaysian co-pilot in Jakarta, Indonesia, last July.

The co-pilot was detained by Indonesian authorities at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 25 kilogrammes (kg) of drugs.

The Indonesian National Police (POLRI) subsequently found 15 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine, with an estimated value of RM45 million. — Bernama

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马来西亚皇家警察（PDRM）发现，由于欧洲市场需求旺盛，贩毒集团经常雇用平民作为毒品运输者，将大麻花运往欧洲。

武吉阿曼警察总部毒品犯罪调查部主任拿督侯赛因·奥马尔·汗澄清说，只有少数飞行员（而不是所有飞行员）涉嫌走私，大多数欧洲走私活动都涉及公众。

他建议对可疑的高额报酬保持警惕，并指出需要在出入境口岸加强安保措施，因为这些犯罪团伙利用各种贩运路线。

最近在吉隆坡和苏丹阿兹兰沙机场的逮捕行动凸显了打击复杂走私网络的持续斗争。

巴卓，9月10日讯——马来西亚皇家警察（PDRM）发现，通过空运向欧洲贩毒的犯罪集团经常利用公众成员作为毒品运输者，特别是运输在欧洲大陆需求量很大的大麻花。

武吉阿曼警察总部毒品罪案调查部主任拿督侯赛因·奥马尔·汗表示，并非所有因参与毒品走私而被捕的飞行员都在向欧洲运输毒品。

据我们所知，只有一两名飞行员涉案。其中一名副驾驶在印度尼西亚雅加达被捕。

“据我们所知，他（副驾驶）去了澳大利亚和印度尼西亚，而不是欧洲。走私毒品到欧洲大多涉及普通民众中的毒品骡子，”他在今天对巴乔克戒毒康复中心（Puspen）进行战略访问后举行的新闻发布会上告诉记者。

他表示，由于市场上对大麻花的需求量很大，欧洲涉及的大多数空中毒品走私案件都以大麻花为中心。

他敦促公众警惕那些承诺提供丰厚报酬的犯罪团伙，例如免费机票或度假套餐，或者要求他们将某些行李运送到海外。

“我们的公民需要明白，有人会提供大笔资金来支付机票、度假套餐等费用，这种情况并不常见。

“所以，不要落入这些犯罪团伙的圈套，”他说。

关于贩毒集团如何绕过吉隆坡国际机场 (KLIA) 的安全检查，侯赛因表示他无法详细说明，因为内政部目前正在审查加强该国所有出入境口岸安全的措施。

他表示，贩毒集团的手段越来越高明，正在利用各种途径，包括空中、海上和陆地。

“如果不用空运，他们就会使用水路、陆路等等，”他说。

侯赛因表示，除了吉隆坡国际机场 (KLIA) 外，马来西亚皇家警察还在怡保苏丹阿兹兰沙机场记录了与毒品走私活动有关的逮捕事件。

昨天，马新社报道称，警方拘留了一名男子，以协助调查去年 7 月在印度尼西亚雅加达发生的马来西亚籍副驾驶因涉毒被捕的案件。

副驾驶因涉嫌走私 25 公斤毒品，在苏加诺-哈达国际机场 3 号航站楼被印尼当局拘留。

印尼国家警察随后查获15个包裹，内含70114粒摇头丸和冰毒，估计价值4500万令吉。——马新社

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