KLIA customs director Zulkifli Muhammad said the success came from the swift action of the department’s enforcement division, in collaboration with several other security agencies.

He said five local men have been arrested to assist with investigations under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

“These four cases involved attempts to smuggle cannabis overseas, particularly to the European market, using various tactics, including disguising the drugs as commercial goods,” Bernama reported him as saying.

Zulkifli said in the first case on Sept 27, authorities intercepted 21 packages weighing 220.32kg, valued at RM21.59 million. They were in a courier truck entering the KLIA Free Zone for export to a European country.

He said in the second case, raids at two warehouses in Shah Alam and Subang Jaya on Sept 29 and 30 uncovered 52 boxes from four separate consignments. They contained 464.58kg of cannabis with an estimated value of RM45.53 million.

In the third case on Oct 1, a local man was detained at KLIA Terminal 1 after being flagged for outstanding duties and taxes, prompting a baggage inspection that revealed 21.04kg of cannabis worth around RM2.06 million.

“The suspect was recently charged in court,” he said.

Zulkifli said in the fourth case on Oct 3, authorities seized 294.35kg of cannabis in 28 packages, valued at RM28.85 million, at the KLIA Free Zone export gate.

He added that in all the cases, except the third, the syndicate was believed to have concealed the drugs in boxes labelled as premium towel brands. They were sealed in airtight plastic to evade detection by the authorities.

“Four men, including courier truck drivers and the owners of the warehouses, have been detained to assist in the investigation into the three cases,” he said.