Indian authorities seize RM2.64m in cannabis from KL flight passenger

Summary

• Indian authorities seize RM2.64 million worth of cannabis from a passenger on an AirAsia flight from KL.

• This comes after Transport Minister Anthony Loke tells MAHB to buck up over wildlife smuggling in checked-in luggage.

About INR51,000,000 (RM2.64 million) worth of cannabis was seized in India from a passenger on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur.

The passenger has since been arrested and the investigation is ongoing, the Tiruchirappalli Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate said in a post on X.

“Based on specific intelligence, officers of central intelligence unit (CIU), Tiruchirappalli recovered and seized 5.155kg of hydroponic weed/ganja approximately valued at Rs 5.1 crores concealed in checked-in luggage of a passenger,” said the authority.

Earlier this month, Transport Minister Anthony Loke reprimanded Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) over rising cases of wildlife smuggling out of the country.

He said it was a serious issue that the airport operator must take immediate steps to overcome.

Checked-in luggage falls under the purview of MAHB’s baggage handling services and not the Customs Department.

Also today, a report from Bernama said the Customs Department at the KLIA had thwarted seven smuggling attempts with an estimated value of RM1.86 million in the first two months of this year.

The cases involved cannabis and methamphetamine.

In December, Bernama reported that the Customs Department had foiled 135 attempts to smuggle drugs into or out of the country through air transport in 2024.

The department also announced an additional 66 scanners nationwide and 20 more sniffer dogs.

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