Macau police arrested a 19-year-old Malaysian man at the city’s international airport after finding 8.9kg of cannabis buds hidden in his luggage.
Drugs worth RM5.3mil
According to the TDM Macau, officers seized 16 vacuum-sealed and foil-wrapped packages of cannabis with an estimated street value of MOP9 million (RM5.3 million).
Investigations revealed that the man, surnamed Muhammad, was recruited by a Malaysian drug syndicate.
He had collected the drugs in Bangkok, travelled to South Korea, and then arrived in Macau on a connecting flight.
Police believe the suspect was using Macau as a transit point to smuggle the drugs into Hong Kong.
He was promised a payment of RM5,000 (MOP9,500) upon the successful delivery.
Risk analysis led to arrest
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesperson Ho Wai Lok (transliteration) told Macau Daily that the police identified the suspect through risk analysis on passengers arriving from South Korea.
When his luggage was checked, the drugs were discovered.
During questioning, the man admitted he was hired to carry the drugs and confirmed his route from Thailand to Macau via South Korea.
Case under further investigation
The suspect, who claimed to work as a repairman, is now facing charges of drug trafficking and has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office. Authorities are still tracing the drug source and other syndicate members.
Under Macau’s Drug Trafficking Law (Decree-Law No. 5/91/M), those convicted of trafficking large quantities of narcotics face 8 to 15 years’ imprisonment, with heavier penalties possible depending on the case.
The Malaysian has since been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office.
READ ALSO:
