By P. Vijian, NNN-Bernama,
New Delhi : Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) is baffled why international heroin traffickers are making a bee-line to send the drugs to Malaysia.
In the last six months, its investigations have revealed that at least 40 per cent of drugs seized at Pakistani airports are destined for the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
In the latest incident, ANF officials detained two suspected female heroin couriers — a Pakistani and Filipina — at the Islamabad International Airport on May 30.
Seized from the Pakistani housewife, Shahnaz Shahzad, in her late 30s, were seven kg of heroin which was hidden in a suitcase, and meant to be delivered to a buyer in Kuala Lumpur.
ANF officials believe that a Nigerian national, Dave Enenmuo Chetanna, had handed over the drugs to the woman when the duo met at a church in Lahore. The Nigerian, according to an ANF statement, was a regular drug supplier to Malaysia.
The statement said on the same day, ANF officials also detained a middle-aged Filipina, Malinda Ruiz Papio, who was found with 4.5kg of heroin hidden in her suitcase. She was bound for Singapore via Bangkok on Flight TG510, at the same airport.
“We have confirmed the drugs were meant for ready buyers in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. In the last six months, at least 40 per cent of drugs seized at Pakistan airports were meant for Kuala Lumpur,” a high-ranking ANF official told Bernama here Wednesday.
“We are quite surprised … we are investigating why Kuala Lumpur is now becoming a popular destination (for international drug traffickers). Maybe, the smugglers have changed their transit points.”
The final destination might not be Malaysia. Instead, the drugs could change hands in Kuala Lumpur before they were sent to China or European markets, he added.
This year, five women, mostly Thais and Filipinas allegedly working for drug cartels in Asian capitals, have been arrested at major Indian airports, trying to smuggle out heroin to Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.
“Traffickers are using more Thai, Filipina, African and Pakistani women to smuggle heroin now. They think women can easily dodge enforcement officers,” said the official who declined to be named.
Most of the drugs originate from neighbouring Afghanistan which produces nearly 90 per cent of world’s heroin supply.