THE Customs Department foiled a syndicate’s attempt to smuggle in ketamine, with an estimate value of RM13.48 million and weighing 245kg, hidden along with various types of nuts at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on July 4.

Its director-general, Zazuli Johan, said a team from the narcotics branch of the Customs Department headquarters seized 49 plastic packages containing crystals, believed to be ketamine, at the KLIA Air Cargo Complex, at about 11pm that day.

“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to declare the goods (drugs) as haricot verts (green beans) while inside the packages were beans mixed with crystal powder (suspected to be the drugs),” Zazuli said at a press conference at the Customs Department in Kampung Jijan, Nilai today.

“Preliminary investigations found that the goods were exported from a European country, via a Middle Eastern country, before landing at KLIA as the final destination.”

He said so far, no arrest related to the case has been made and his team is actively conducting investigations to track down the suspects.

He said the seizure was the largest recorded this year and it was understood the drugs were intended for the local market. – Bernama, July 14, 2022.