Malaysian couriers face possible death penalty over $808,000 sedative pill haul at Kuching airport

Two Malaysian couriers, aged 25 and 39, from the city of Miri, face potential death penalty charges for smuggling a large quantity of sedative pills at Kuching airport. The suspects, who arrived from Senai International Airport in Johor, were apprehended on September 28 in the arrival hall. The seized pills, Erimin 5 or nimetazepam, are known depressants that could have served up to 163,650 users.

Police claim the pair had been trafficking drugs since August, with their first shipment successfully delivering. Each delivery reportedly netted the couriers RM5,000 ($1,220). Both men have criminal histories, with the younger suspect testing positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, and benzodiazepines in a recent drug test, while the older man tested negative.

The two men have been remanded for eight days and charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. If convicted, they could face the death penalty or life imprisonment, but Malaysia's 2023 law change allows judges to decide the punishment, which could range from whipping and prison terms of up to 40 years. Authorities are tracking down the individual who hired the suspects.