Nigerian drug kingpins nabbed in Malaysia

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Large haul: Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Datuk Haris (second from left) showing some of the items seized during a press conference at Bukit Aman.

Three drug kingpins who used foreigners as drug mules were among nine Nigerian men arrested in a major drug bust, resulting in RM2.5mil (S$933,000) worth of syabu seized.

Police conducted multiple raids in Seri Kembangan, Cyberjaya, Bandar Sri Damansara and Shah Alam, said Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Haris Wong Abdullah. Also confiscated were two cars worth more than RM150,000.

Police discovered that the three kingpins ran separate syndicates which received their drug supplies via courier from China. "The Nigerians are no longer depending on smuggled drugs from their home country. They are now getting their supply from China. "It is definitely a worrying trend as their source of supply is closer now," DCP Haris said at a press conference in Bukit Aman here yesterday.

He revealed that the syndicates also used foreigners as drug mules. "They were using Caucasians from South Africa and Australia. "They assumed the police would be less suspicious of Caucasians as drug mules compared to Asians," he said, adding that the syndicates previously used Asians, including Malaysians and Vietnamese, as drug mules.

DCP Haris said the syndicates, which had been operating in the country for more than two years, supplied drugs to neighbouring countries. "However, we discovered that they recently smuggled drugs to Australia and even Israel. "They are becoming more brazen and were planning to expand their operations but we managed to put a stop to that," he added.

DCP Haris said police seized 6kg of high-grade syabu in the raids, with a street value easily surpassing RM2.5mil.

He added that Bukit Aman was working closely with the United States' Drug Enforcement Agency as well as the Australian Federal Police to ensure that such syndicates did not thrive. "We are also roping in courier service companies to alert us if they receive any suspicious parcels."