By Sarban Singh

NILAI - Most of the drugs worth almost RM33mil seized in the first six months of this year were at the KL International Airport.

Customs investigations director Zainul Abidin Taib also expressed concern that more Indian nationals were involved in drug smuggling.

Although the Malaysian authorities had raised the matter with their Indian counterparts, many such cases continued to be uncovered, he said.

"They keep on trying their luck. They think our officers aren't vigilant," he told reporters at the Customs narcotics headquarters in Kampung Jijan near here yesterday.

Zainul Abidin said the increase in drug seizures showed that the department's strategy to check drug smuggling was effective.

"The value of drugs seized for the whole of 2008 was only RM18mil," he said.

The Customs department arrested 22 Indian nationals who tried to smuggle drugs into the country compared to five last year. It also detained six Iranians and a Pakistani so far this year.

They recorded 43 cases in the first six months of this year compared to 31 last year.

Of the illicit drugs seized this year, syabu was the biggest haul at 50kg (worth some RM12.5mil) followed by Eramin-5 (RM8.8mil), ketamine (RM8mil), ganja (RM2.8mil), heroin (RM700,000) and Ecstasy pills (RM60,000).

"We need public co-operation to check drug smuggling. A reward will be given if the information is accurate and results in drug seizures."

Earlier, Zainul Abidin said his officers detained two men for trying to smuggle in 25kg of ketamine at the KLIA cargo complex on Friday.

He said the two, a local and an Indian national, went to the complex at 11am to claim three boxes which allegedly contained A4 papers.

"My officers decided to check the contents of the boxes and found ketamine powder in one of them. The drugs were hidden in 10 plastic bags and had a street value of RM450,000," he said. -The Star/Asia News Network