THE Customs Department is investigating the smuggling of drugs worth about RM790 million from Port Klang to Brisbane, Australia, deputy director-general (enforcement and compliance) Sazali Mohamad said today.

He said the investigation would be completed in two weeks, as directed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“At present, we cannot reveal details of the investigation because they are confidential, but the report will be ready within two weeks,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

“No officer was sent to Australia (to investigate) because we have a customs attaché officer at the Malaysian High Commission there and we are in contact with the officer.”

When asked about the possibility of customs personnel colluding in the smuggling case, Sazali said the matter was still under investigation.

Yesterday, Anwar called on the police to carry out an urgent investigation and report on the drug smuggling case within the next two weeks.

He also questioned how a “sophisticated” system failed to detect the drugs in the consignment and how similar incidents were said to have occurred “12 to 16 times” over the years.

On March 13, a 336kg heroin shipment, with a street value of about A$268 million (RM790 million), was seized by Australian federal police in Brisbane, Queensland.

The drugs were hidden in two concrete blocks, each weighing about 500kg, marked as solar panel accessories inside a sea freight container, Australian police said.

Officers drilled into the concrete blocks and removed 960 packages, each containing about 350g of heroin.

Australian media reported it as being the biggest-ever drug haul in Queensland and second biggest in the whole country. – April 16, 2023.