Malaysia: Officials Seize Record 1 Ton of Meth

Malaysian authorities seized more than a ton of crystal methamphetamine, popularly known as meth, in a shipment from Myanmar.

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The meth weighed in at about 1,187 kilograms and carried a street value of US$18 million. The drug was transported in a container from Yangon, Myanmar, to Port Klang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, according to Customs Director-General Subromaniam Tholasy.

“This is the biggest seizure seen in our history in terms of value and weight”.

The drug, which is the largest find in the Asia country, was disguised as tea packed in golden yellow packets. The shipment had been declared “foodstuff” and was bound for a Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysian trading company, Subromaniam disclosed.

Six people – three Myanmar nationals and three Malaysians – were detained in connection with the seizure.

“We are still investigating, but we believe the syndicate involved has links with syndicates in Myanmar,” Subromaniam said.

Officials also seized a small amount of heroin and about one million contraband cigarettes.

Myanmar is largely recognized as a major producer of opium and heroin, and also has become the source of most of Southeast Asia’s methamphetamine.

Indonesia and Thailand have also made record seizures of the drug this year.