Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the 57.6kg of methamphetamine was concealed in seven plastic sacks filled with soil.

The couple, aged 41 and 42, were believed to be acting as “transporters”, delivering the items using a lorry driven by the husband.

He said the seven plastic sacks and soil were used to conceal 56 packets labelled “Guanyingwang” Chinese tea, suspected to contain 57.6kg of the drug.

“Hiding drugs in soil-filled sacks and delivering them via courier is a new modus operandi by traffickers that we uncovered through the arrest of both suspects,” he told a press conference at the Selangor police headquarters today.

Hussein said the couple was instructed to pick up the plastic sacks in Serdang Jaya and deliver them to Puchong Jaya.

Initial investigations revealed that this was their first delivery and they were believed to have been paid RM51 based on the fee specified in the courier apps.

He said police were still investigating whether the couple was aware of the drugs in the sacks they were transporting.

In a separate case, police seized 26 compressed slabs of dried leaves believed to be marijuana after arresting a 34-year-old man in a parking area at the Sungai Buloh R&R at 4.30am yesterday.

Hussein said the drugs, weighing 26.25kg and worth about RM81,375, were found in a suitcase in the boot of the suspect’s car. The suspect tested positive for the drug.

“The suspects in both cases have been remanded for seven days, and the cases are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said.