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Malaysia
AsiaSoutheast Asia

Malaysia’s first ever fentanyl seizure uncovered in Dubai-bound shipment from India

  • More than 800kg of fentanyl was seized in a consignment that originated in India and was in transit to the United Arab Emirates, authorities said
  • Customs officials estimated the value of the seizure at nearly US$10 million and said it could have fed the habits of up to four million drug users

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Plastic bags of fentanyl seized by US customs officials are seen in this file photo. The Royal Malaysian Customs Department said this month’s fentanyl seizure was its first ever. Photo: Reuters
The Star
Customs officials in Malaysia have seized almost 808kg of fentanyl, worth an estimated 45 million ringgit (US$9.6 million), in an operation at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport cargo complex.

This was the Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s first seizure of fentanyl, which is said to be 20 to 40 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

Sazali Mohamad, customs director general for enforcement and compliance, said his officers seized the drug, hidden in 36 boxes, at the cargo complex just past midnight on December 9.

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“Upon checking the contents, we found 72 aluminium containers filled with fentanyl,” he told reporters at the department’s narcotics headquarters on Monday.

“The syndicate tried to hoodwink the authorities by declaring the consignment as fragrance compounds.”

Sazali said the seized fentanyl, which is used medically as an analgesic and anaesthetic, could have fed the habits of up to four million drug users.

He said the consignment originated from an international airport in India and was in transit.
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