From Central America to Malaysia: Bukit Aman, DEA probe synthetic drug trail

New Straits Times

09-05-2025

Police tell AUSTIN CAMOENS they are working with US authorities to determine why and how synthetic drugs are brought into Malaysia from Central America
POLICE are working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to determine how a Malaysian drug syndicate, led by a group of relatives, procured synthetic drugs from Central America.
The federal Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID) is investigating the movements and travel history of three suspects arrested last month.
"We will go through immigration records to see if they had travelled to Central America," said acting Federal NCID director Deputy Commissioner Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali.
"We want to know why and how the syndicate secured supplies from there. This is highly unusual, as syndicates here commonly obtain their supply from the Golden Triangle, as it is cheaper," he said.
On April 29, police dismantled the family-run syndicate after arresting three men in a series of raids. They seized 2.16 tonnes of methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy — believed to have originated from a Central American country.
Malaysian social media users have dubbed the case "Narcos Malaysia", after the hit Netflix series Narcos.
Mat Zani said the syndicate might have been trying to avoid increased scrutiny associated with drug consignments from the Golden Triangle — a region that includes parts of Myanmar, China, Laos and Thailand.
The area has long been a source of illicit drugs due to its remote and mountainous terrain, the presence of warlords and conditions ideal for opium cultivation. In recent years, it has also become a hub for methamphetamine production.
"The Central American syndicate could be testing the market through this consignment," Mat Zani said.
While investigations into the Central American connection are ongoing, police are also tracking down two more suspects believed to be remnant members of the syndicate.
"We believe they are still in Malaysia and are taking the necessary steps to apprehend them," he said.
Mat Zani revealed the three arrested suspects are related through marriage.
"Checks showed that two of the suspects are married to the elder sisters of the third suspect," he said.
One suspect has a criminal intimidation record, another has a previous drug offence, while the third has no criminal record.
Export plans
Documents seized during the raids indicate the synthetic drugs — worth RM82.1 million — were smuggled into the country in a shipping container declared as carrying "plastic flakes".
The syndicate was planning to distribute the drugs locally, as well as in Japan and South Korea, where 1kg of methamphetamine is worth about RM400,000.
Mat Zani said the drugs were to be exported via courier services.
"They would be hidden in parcels and shipped to both countries. We are also investigating if the syndicate had previously sent drugs there," he said.
Trafficking drugs via courier has become a common method for syndicates. Both the police and Customs Department have uncovered such tactics in previous busts.
At the 64th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in 2021, Interpol reported that trafficking of illicit drugs via postal mail and express couriers had "exploded" post-Covid-19 pandemic.
Mat Zani urged anyone with information on the case or drug-related activity to contact the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222.