ID :
161547
Wed, 02/16/2011 - 15:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/161547
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Int'l drug syndicate uses Facebook, via locals to recruit drug mules
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- It appears that international drug trafficking now has a face.
Federal police investigations have revealed that some locals are in the payroll of international syndicates to target potential 'drug mules' through the social networking website, Facebook.
With promises of instant wealth and attractive overseas vacation packages, the agents recruit the 'drug mules' to smuggle drugs to other countries.
"Through Facebook, they (local agents) will make new friends and get close to certain people. Once they have earned the victims' trust, they will use them as drug mules," Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Noor Rashid Ibrahim said Wednesday.
He said the tactic was discovered, following the arrest of a 23-year-old man at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for trying to smuggle cocaine to Qatar late last month.
During interrogation, the man said three Malaysian men had tricked him into going to Argentina to bring back black jewels to Malaysia, Noor Rashid told reporters at the federal police headquarters here Wednesday.
Prior to this, Noor Rashid said the task to recruit drug mules fell squarely on the shoulders of Iranian and Nigerian nationals. However, as their efforts did not yield encouraging results, they turned to Malaysians.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and remind the public not to fall victim to the tactic used by this international syndicate," he said.
He said last year, 35 Malaysians, including 12 women, were arrested abroad when they were found to have worked as 'drug mules' for international syndicates.
However, he said, the statistics had shown a decline from 54 people in 2009, 66 (2008) and 84 (2007).
Most of them were below the age of 40 and were nabbed in several countries, including Taiwan, Peru, Brazil and Thailand, added Noor Rashid.
Meanwhile, Noor Rashid said 14,652 people were detained for various drug-related crimes, while various types of drugs worth RM38.77 million (US$12.50 million) were seized throughout last month.
During the same period, he said four drug-processing laboratories -- two in Kuala Lumpur and one each in the northern states of Perak and Penang -- were uncovered, with the arrest of eight people.
"Throughout January, we also detained 24 people, including 17 Iranians, during our enforcement activities at the KL International Airport (KLIA) and the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)," said the narcotics director.
He said 19 people were nabbed in KLIA and the rest in LCCT, adding that the police seized 49.8kg of syabu worth almost RM3.3 million (US$1.06 million)
Action was also taken against 103 people under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 and RM3 million (about US$967,741) worth of property sealed, including those sealed during the anti-drug operation dubbed 'Ops Ramelia' last month, he added.
Federal police investigations have revealed that some locals are in the payroll of international syndicates to target potential 'drug mules' through the social networking website, Facebook.
With promises of instant wealth and attractive overseas vacation packages, the agents recruit the 'drug mules' to smuggle drugs to other countries.
"Through Facebook, they (local agents) will make new friends and get close to certain people. Once they have earned the victims' trust, they will use them as drug mules," Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Noor Rashid Ibrahim said Wednesday.
He said the tactic was discovered, following the arrest of a 23-year-old man at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for trying to smuggle cocaine to Qatar late last month.
During interrogation, the man said three Malaysian men had tricked him into going to Argentina to bring back black jewels to Malaysia, Noor Rashid told reporters at the federal police headquarters here Wednesday.
Prior to this, Noor Rashid said the task to recruit drug mules fell squarely on the shoulders of Iranian and Nigerian nationals. However, as their efforts did not yield encouraging results, they turned to Malaysians.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and remind the public not to fall victim to the tactic used by this international syndicate," he said.
He said last year, 35 Malaysians, including 12 women, were arrested abroad when they were found to have worked as 'drug mules' for international syndicates.
However, he said, the statistics had shown a decline from 54 people in 2009, 66 (2008) and 84 (2007).
Most of them were below the age of 40 and were nabbed in several countries, including Taiwan, Peru, Brazil and Thailand, added Noor Rashid.
Meanwhile, Noor Rashid said 14,652 people were detained for various drug-related crimes, while various types of drugs worth RM38.77 million (US$12.50 million) were seized throughout last month.
During the same period, he said four drug-processing laboratories -- two in Kuala Lumpur and one each in the northern states of Perak and Penang -- were uncovered, with the arrest of eight people.
"Throughout January, we also detained 24 people, including 17 Iranians, during our enforcement activities at the KL International Airport (KLIA) and the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)," said the narcotics director.
He said 19 people were nabbed in KLIA and the rest in LCCT, adding that the police seized 49.8kg of syabu worth almost RM3.3 million (US$1.06 million)
Action was also taken against 103 people under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 and RM3 million (about US$967,741) worth of property sealed, including those sealed during the anti-drug operation dubbed 'Ops Ramelia' last month, he added.
