Malaysian Police Crack International Drug Trafficking Ring with Information from Supreme Prosecutors' Office... 13 Arrested, Drugs Worth 5.4 Billion KRW Seized

Drugs seized by the Malaysian police. / Provided by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Malaysian police, in cooperation with the Korean prosecution, have uncovered a large-scale international drug trafficking ring.

This is the first time that the Korean prosecution and Malaysian police have collaborated to apprehend drug offenders.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division (Chief Shin Seong-sik) announced on the 1st that, based on information provided by the Korean prosecution, Malaysian police raided a methamphetamine manufacturing facility and a multinational organization-linked international drug trafficking ring in Kuala Lumpur in early last month, arresting 13 suspects and seizing 12.2 kg of methamphetamine and 64 kg of ketamine, worth approximately 5.42 billion KRW at domestic wholesale prices.

According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, after jointly uncovering a large-scale shipment of 16.4 kg of methamphetamine originating from Malaysia between January and March this year, the prosecution and customs provided real-time key information such as sender details and smuggling methods to Malaysian police, conducting a joint investigation.

Among the suspects arrested by Malaysian police through this joint investigation, one was identified as the sender involved in methamphetamine cases recently uncovered by the Incheon and Cheongju District Prosecutors' Offices.

Between 2018 and 2019, methamphetamine smuggling from Malaysia to Korea surged to about 40 kg, prompting the prosecution to visit local Malaysian police and customs offices to request active countermeasures. Subsequently, 10 full-body ion scanners were installed at Kuala Lumpur Airport, and baggage inspections for Malaysia-bound shipments to Korea were significantly strengthened, resulting in a sharp decline in methamphetamine smuggling from Malaysia to 3.6 kg by the end of last year.

However, since the beginning of this year, methamphetamine imports from Malaysia using international express cargo have started to rise again, with 16.4 kg seized in early January alone.

Accordingly, the prosecution, in cooperation with customs, significantly intensified inspections of Malaysia-origin postal items while simultaneously providing Malaysian police with real-time sender information obtained during domestic investigations to support investigations into local manufacturers and smugglers.

As a result, Malaysian police arrested 13 members of an international drug organization linked to groups in New Zealand and Indonesia between the 6th and 8th of last month at Kuala Lumpur Airport and other locations, successfully uncovering a methamphetamine manufacturing factory.

The drugs seized by Malaysian police include 12.2 kg of methamphetamine, 64 kg of ketamine, and 225 ecstasy tablets, valued at approximately 1.51 billion KRW locally in Malaysia and 5.42 billion KRW at domestic wholesale prices.

Malaysian police sent a letter of appreciation to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for the information provided along with the investigation results, the office reported.

A representative from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "The inflow of drugs from overseas continues to increase," adding, "The prosecution plans to make special efforts to block the domestic inflow of drugs at the source and to track down and eradicate international drug organizations through close cooperation with overseas related agencies."

Until 2016, most methamphetamine smuggling into Korea originated from China, but smuggling routes have diversified continuously, including Taiwan in 2017-2018, Malaysia from late 2018 to late 2019, the United States and Thailand in 2020, and Malaysia, the United States, and Thailand in 2021.

Previously, smugglers commonly concealed drugs inside their bodies or underwear, known colloquially as 'jige' carriers, but recently, due to reduced passenger movement amid the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of smuggling drugs hidden inside clothing or food items via international express cargo have increased.

Major Methamphetamine Smuggling Cases from Malaysia. / Provided by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.