Customs makes first-ever fentanyl seizure in Malaysia with haul worth RM44.4 mil

807.9kg of the notorious narcotic seized in raid at KLIA Cargo Complex on Dec 9

Some of the aluminium bottles seized by the Customs Department, which contained a liquid substance believed to be fentanyl. – Bernama pic, December 18, 2023

NILAI – The Royal Malaysian Customs Department seized fentanyl weighing 807.9kg and worth RM44.4 million at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Air Cargo Complex in Sepang on December 9.

The department’s deputy director-general for enforcement and compliance, Datuk Sazali Mohamad, said in the raid at about 12.30am, customs seized 36 boxes containing 72 aluminium bottles, which were filled with a liquid substance believed to be fentanyl.

“This is our first seizure involving this type of drug, which is 100 times more dangerous than morphine and 20 to 40 times stronger than heroin. If it is mixed with xylazine, it will cause people to become like zombies,” he told reporters here today.

He said preliminary investigation found that the drugs arrived at the KLIA Cargo Complex from Mumbai International Airport on transit to Dubai.

Sazali said the syndicate’s modus operandi was to declare items containing drugs as fragrance compounds.

Meanwhile, he said that from January to November this year, the department foiled 398 drug cases involving RM294.37 million. – December 18, 2023