Malaysia Customs seizes $6m worth of cannabis buds hidden in pet food at KL airport
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The drugs were hidden in cat and dog food packages, as well as snacks, to evade the authorities.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Follow topic:
SEPANG - Customs officials in Malaysia seized 210kg of ganja buds worth 20.57 million ringgit (S$6 million) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Free Trade Zone.
The drugs were hidden in cat and dog food packages, as well as snacks, to evade the authorities.
Dr Ahmad Taufik Sulaiman, acting assistant director-general of the Customs Department (Central Zone), said the seizure happened on March 15.
“Customs officers conducted checks at a cargo terminal in the KLIA Free Trade Zone and discovered the contraband,” he said at a press conference on April 14.
The cargo, from a South-east Asian country, was headed to a European country.
No arrests have been made.
“The cargo was declared as recycled clothing to pass through checks,” he said.
Cannabis buds are valued at RM98,000 per kg, compared with RM33,000 per kg for ganja leaves.
“Ganja buds are more valuable as they can be replanted to produce more ganja leaves,” Dr Ahmad added.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“We will work with the police to further investigate and uncover those responsible for the in-transit cargo.
“We have encountered this modus operandi before,” he added.
This is the largest seizure of ganja buds at KLIA in 2025.
Dr Ahmad said: “We urge the public to help us combat smuggling of drugs, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Smuggling not only causes national losses, but also endangers people.” THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

