RM955k morphine busted: Drug syndicate foiled at Johor courier hub

JOHOR BARU: The Customs Department foiled an attempt by a drug syndicate to smuggle more than RM955,000 worth of morphine via courier services, following the interception of two suspicious parcels.
Johor Customs director Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi said the seizure was made by a team from the department's Narcotics Branch after a thorough inspection at a Pos Laju office here at 3.35pm on April 23.
"Initial checks revealed that the parcels had been sent from Hong Kong to a residential address in Pulai," he told a press conference today.
He said each box contained two packets of sweets placed on top of a white bottle filled with a dark-coloured liquid.
"Preliminary testing of the liquid confirmed it to be morphine," he said.
Aminul said the department was working to identify members of the syndicate and trace the intended recipient of the parcels.
He said that this was the sixth case this year involving attempts to smuggle drugs using courier services.
"Previous seizures using similar methods involved drugs such as cannabis, sent from countries including Thailand and Vietnam," he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

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