The Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) at Bukit Aman has taken the initiative to identify riders who are involved in the crime by placing narcotics experts at roadblocks.

A source from the department said they did so after finding that riders who were working for food delivery services were once again being used by certain syndicates to fool the authorities into believing that they were sending supplies to customers during the MCO.

“Therefore, Bukit Aman has taken the proactive action to place narcotics experts at roadblocks to curb this crime,” the source said.

He also said any member of the public with information on drug syndicates can send a message through WhatsApp to the 24-hour NCID hotline at 012-2087222. Their identity will remain anonymous, the source added.

Previously, police revealed a few drug cases involving e-hailing and food delivery riders who had hidden illicit substances in the packages of other items such as food and children’s toys.

During the first round of MCO in April last year, it was reported that a delivery rider was used to deliver drugs hidden in a pack of roti canai to an address in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.

He drove straight to a police station after feeling suspicious of the package he received from the customer. Police then uncovered marijuana hidden in the food.

Subsequently, police arrested five individuals, including the sender and intended recipient of the package, in a raid that took place in Setiawangsa and Bangsar.

In a separate case, a food delivery rider was arrested at a roadblock near the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd depot with 121g of drugs that were meant to be sent to a lecturer at a university who had ordered it online.

Investigations led to police arresting a man from Portugal and his local girlfriend at a raid in Jalan Imbi. They managed to seize 11.3g of syabu, 33g of ketamine, 17 erimin-5 pills and 51g of ganja.