Home Ministry to seek details on five Malaysians held in Japan drug bust, says Saifuddin Nasution

Sungai Petani, October 13 - The Home Ministry will reach out to Japanese authorities for clarification regarding the apprehension of five Malaysians suspected of involvement in a drug-related incident in Japan, announced Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Mr. Nasution directed the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, to expedite the process of gathering pertinent details.

At a press conference following a speech at a Madani Townhall event for UiTM Kedah students, he remarked that comprehensive details would be promptly shared with the media upon receipt.

The arrest transpired at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Saturday, where the suspects, comprising four males and one female, were detained on suspicion of attempting to smuggle approximately five kilograms of cocaine, valued at ¥120 million (RM3.1 million). According to Fuji News Network (FNN), customs officers detected the illicit substance after noticing a suspect wearing shoes with abnormally thick soles.

The suspects allegedly concealed the drugs beneath the insoles of their shoes during their flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Japan, where customs inspections revealed the alleged smuggling attempt.

The Home Ministry's decision to seek further information aligns with previous investigative methods employed in cases involving a Malaysian co-pilot arrested in Jakarta and the seizure of 521 kilograms of drugs from a private jet in Laos, which was initially linked to Malaysia. Mr. Nasution emphasized that the Ministry's plan to implement 17 recommendations aimed at enhancing security at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and other entry points would proceed as originally scheduled.

These recommendations are to be executed in three distinct phases, beginning with the evaluation of high-risk destinations or "hotspots." The first phase specifically targets these high-risk areas, where comprehensive screening of passengers, encompassing body and baggage inspections, will be conducted for 100 percent of travelers.

However, it should be noted that destinations within Japan, including Tokyo, were not initially included in the list of highlighted hotspots.