‘The Malaysian Connection’ embarrassment

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) calls it a national embarrassment to Malaysia when the Australian Federal Police (AFP) intercepted a 336kg shipment of heroin worth RM795 million from Malaysia to Brisbane. The seizure was described as Australia’s “second largest bust on record”.

Had the AFP not discovered the shipment, the 336kg would have destroyed the lives of thousands of people. Globally more than 106,200 people died from drug overdose while as many as 35 million people were dealing with substance abuse or addiction in some form in 2021.

It is hard to comprehend how the concrete blocks with that much of heroin can escape the Malaysian authorities’ detection. For such a large shipment, it involves the mastermind as well as multiple people at various levels of operation.

We therefore call on the Malaysian authorities launch an investigation by cooperating with AFP to arrest all those who are involved regardless of their social status or occupation. Such illegal activity is an absolute embarrassment particularly when the attempt was not detected at so many levels in Malaysia until it arrived in Australia.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)

Press Statement, 9 May 2023