Malaysians warned against carrying strangers’ belongings overseas after Tokyo drug arrests

Travellers to foreign countries are being advised to exercise extreme caution when approached with last-minute requests to carry parcels or belongings by strangers, especially if they are unaware of the contents within. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain emphasized that accepting such offers could potentially expose individuals to drug-smuggling networks, leading to prosecution under the laws of the destination country.

Mohd Shuhaily urged Malaysians to remain vigilant, particularly during the final stages of their travel preparations, when they might be increasingly vulnerable to such offers. He cautioned against accepting unsolicited trips or packages from unknown sources, including those promoted via social media platforms. He warned that suspicious arrangements could involve requests made hastily before departure, demanding that travellers carry, wear, or use items without being informed of their contents.

He stressed that people should treat any item handed to them by strangers with suspicion, as they might subsequently find themselves in legal trouble after being arrested for smuggling prohibited substances, specifically drugs. Mohd Shuhaily advised anyone who suspected suspicious offers to report them to the relevant authorities immediately to prevent entanglement in such cases.

Commenting on recent arrests at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, Mohd Shuhaily believed that Japanese authorities had acted on intelligence and information-sharing. The five Malaysians arrested were suspected of attempting to smuggle 5kg of cocaine into Japan through concealed packets hidden beneath the insoles of their shoes, with an estimated value of US$757,300 (approximately RM3.2 million).

Four of the suspects admitted to the allegations, while the fifth denied them. One suspect, Mohd Danial Farhan Abdul Rahman, had reportedly met an individual on a social media application who offered him a substantial payment and shoes to carry drugs overseas.