GEORGE TOWN: Two Indonesian drug mules were detained at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas here on Monday for attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country.
The drugs, 2kg of syabu and 10g of ecstasy pills worth about RM64,000, were packed and sealed in small black plastic bags and placed inside their hand carry, in between layers of clothes.
When their hand carry went through the airport scanner, the security personnel noticed the suspicious packages and called the police.
State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said police checked the hand carry and found the drugs inside the sealed packages before arresting the foreigners, aged 25 and 27.
"The men claimed they were paid to come here and not aware of the content of the packages. They did not know it was wrong.
"The men were headed home to Indonesia when they were nabbed.
"We are still investigating this matter further and believe they could be drug mules," he told newsmen at the state police contingent headquarters here today.
Hamzah said this was the men's second trip here to Penang.
"Checks showed they were paid to come here before, possibly to survey the security at the airport," he added.
Hamzah also said that further checks showed the syndicate had only started operating for overseas markets.
"The drugs, if found their way in the market, could have been used by some 10,000 addicts," he said.
Both the men's urine tests came back negative for drugs.
They also had no previous criminal or drug records.
One works as a decorator while another is a supplier of electronic items.
They have been remanded until May 27 to assist in investigation into the case under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.
In a separate case, Hamzah said police arrested a security guard at his family home in Solok Sungai Ara during the Op Tapis operation on Monday and seized 0.3gm of syabu from him.
"Also found on him were two live .38 bullets. We are still investigating how he obtained the bullets.
"His urine test came back positive for methamphetamine.
"He also had three records for drug-related offences," he said, adding that the man had been remanded until May 24 for investigation.
The case is probed under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 and Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.
