KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian couple arrested in Mauritius with about 65kg of suspected cannabis were allegedly recruited to smuggle the drugs for RM1,000 per suitcase, police said.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the couple, aged 22 and 18, from Penang, were recruited after connecting with an individual through the RedNote application.
“Further investigations found that the suspects were contacted by an individual via Telegram after making acquaintance through RedNote.
“The person offered them RM1,000 for each suitcase brought to Mauritius,” he said when contacted today.
Hussein said the couple agreed to transport four suitcases, two each, with their flight tickets and hotel accommodation fully arranged and paid for by the person.
“They were instructed to travel to Bangkok, Thailand, to collect the four suitcases before continuing to Mauritius via Dubai.
“They were also told to download the Life360 application so their movements could be monitored by the person coordinating the delivery,” he said.
The couple also sent copies of their passports to the person via Telegram.
Preliminary investigations found that they had travelled to Mauritius for a holiday and were scheduled to stay for five days at Domaine de Grand Baie Hotel.
Hussein said the couple later discovered that conversations in their Telegram group had been deleted or that the person believed to be the syndicate leader had left the group after their arrest.
He said the police received information from Mauritian authorities about the arrest of the three Malaysians at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSRIA).
“The three suspects were arrested on Nov 2 at 2.35pm, shortly after arriving on Emirates flight EK709 from Dubai.
“The arrests were carried out by the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU), in collaboration with Mauritius Customs, based on intelligence received,” he said.
Hussein said checks on the couple’s luggage uncovered 60 plastic packets containing suspected cannabis, with a gross weight of about 65kg.
Apple tracking devices were also found inside each suitcase carried by one of the suspects.
The third suspect, a 30-year-old man from Sabah who works in Singapore, was arrested with 10 plastic packets containing suspected cannabis.
Preliminary investigations found that he had come across a job advertisement in Singapore on Facebook before being contacted by an individual via Telegram.
Hussein said checks showed that none of the three suspects had previous criminal records.
“The Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department will continue intelligence coordination and cooperation with the Mauritian authorities to obtain full details of the arrests and seizure.
“This cooperation is also aimed at identifying possible involvement of individuals or drug trafficking networks linked to Malaysia,” he said.
In a statement on Nov 4, the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) confirmed the arrest of the three Malaysians after 70 vacuum-sealed plastic packets containing 76.14kg of suspected cannabis were found in their luggage.
The three had arrived at SSRIA from Dubai aboard Emirates flight EK709 on Nov 2.
The drugs were estimated to be worth 114.21 million Mauritian rupees (about RM9.87 million) based on local market prices.