Three Singaporean men have been arrested in a Malaysian drug bust of US$1.7 million worth of cocaine-laced vape liquid destined for sale overseas, in a case spotlighting Kuala Lumpur’s emerging role as a hub for a new generation of narcotics delivered through e-cigarettes.
Advertisement
On Monday, Malaysia’s federal narcotics department announced the seizure of nearly 5,000 cartridges of the cocaine-laced liquid from a vehicle parked at a hotel in Ampang, an upscale suburb east of the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
“The drugs are estimated to be worth 7.2 million ringgit [US$1.7 million], and investigations revealed that the syndicate used Malaysia as a transit point, shipping the liquids abroad via air courier services,” said federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department Director Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali.
A 57-year-old Malaysian and three Singaporean men aged between 25 and 46 were arrested in the sting, police said, which took place last Thursday. Police believe the suspects had been operating from a rented condominium in the area since March.
It was unclear if the liquid was for use in e-cigarettes – or a ruse to smuggle the cocaine from Malaysia. “This is Malaysia’s first case involving cocaine in vape form. We believe the syndicate used this method to avoid detection and ease international delivery,” Salahuddin said.
Advertisement
Vaping is surging across the Asia-Pacific, particularly among the youth, and drug-laced vape liquids are also becoming a growing concern. In Malaysia, two Taiwanese nationals were arrested last month for operating an amphetamine lab producing similar liquids in a Kuala Lumpur flat.