KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Drug syndicates have turned to hiring chemists from around the globe to throw the police off guard.

Previously, syndicates were found to have brought in chemists from China, prompting police and immigration officials at entry points to scrutinise all arrivals from that country to ascertain whether they were entering Malaysia for legitimate purposes.

Of late, however, chemists arrested at drug laboratories run by these syndicates included a Canadian, six Mexicans, three Africans and two Pakistanis.

So far this year, police have pulled off two major drug busts, arresting 18 suspects -- including foreign nationals -- and seizing various drugs worth RM44.6 million in Johor and Kuala Lumpur.

"Previously, those arriving in Malaysia from China were scrutinised to ascertain if they were in the country for legitimate reasons or for nefarious activities.

"But arrivals from Europe and the Americas normally come to Malaysia for a holiday and, therefore, are viewed with less suspicion.

"It is because of this that the syndicates are now turning to people from these continents instead of China," said a source.

He said syndicates were luring foreigners from these continents with promises of lucrative rewards. The rewards are lucrative because Malaysia is seen as a sort of hub for the drug trade, an ideal transit point for the illegal trade.

"From Malaysia, a courier can just hop on a bus and head either south to Singapore, or north as far as China," said the source.