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Iranian drug smuggler caught
[Straits Times] MALAYSIAN authorities have arrested an Iranian businessman for allegedly carrying cocaine - the 26th person from that country held for suspected drug-smuggling at the main airport in recent weeks, police said on Wednesday.The Iranian was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday after 4 kilograms of cocaine were found in the false bottom of a bag, said Nordin Kadir, narcotics department head in central Selangor state. More than 40 Iranians have been arrested for alleged drug smuggling in Malaysia this year, compared to 24 Iranians arrested last year. This year's figure includes 26 who were arrested at the main airport - 25 of whom were taken into custody for alleged possession of methamphetamines. They make up the brunt of drug-related airport arrests so far this year so that authorities have stepped up surveillance of Iranian travellers. Six others held at Selangor airports include Pakistanis and a Singaporean. Several of the Iranians have already been charged with drug trafficking, which carries the mandatory death penalty. Mr Nordin said the cocaine, worth 800,000 ringgit (S$331,220), was likely destined for Thailand or Australia. Police have said it's hard to say whether more Iranians were allegedly coming in with drugs or more are getting caught because of the added vigilance. But they are all suspected of belonging to an Iran-based international syndicate that mostly caters to the high demand for methamphetamines in Malaysia and the rest of the region. Posted by: Fred 2010-02-25 |
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