Padang besar: The Perlis Customs Department successfully thwarted attempts to smuggle 61.842 kilogrammes of cannabis, believed to be originating from Thailand, with an estimated value of RM188,007.20 on March 3 and 5.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the department's director, Ismail Hashim, reported the discovery of 10.812kg of cannabis valued at approximately RM33,517.20. This was found in a black plastic package during a raid at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Padang Besar at 8.45 pm on March 3. The area, littered with indiscriminate rubbish, was exploited by certain parties to place the drugs in a plastic package for later collection. Inside the package, a box containing nine compressed blocks suspected to be cannabis was discovered.

On March 5, the department seized 20.20kg of cannabis valued at about RM62,000. This occurred after two men, upon realizing they had been detected in the waters off Kuala Perlis at 1.30 am, sped away on a boat towards Thai waters, discarding a sack and a box into the sea. Upon retrieval, 20 compact slabs suspected to be cannabis were found inside the discarded items.

Later that same day at 10.30 pm, the department intercepted 30.83kg of cannabis worth RM92,490 after inspecting two boxes abandoned at the Pulau Batu Layang docking area in Kuala Perlis. These boxes contained 30 compressed blocks believed to be cannabis.

Ismail stated that the ongoing investigations are under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. The seized cannabis was believed to be destined for the northern region and Klang Valley markets.