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Published: Friday October 8, 2010 MYT 3:37:00 PM
More Iranians arrested for drug smuggling
KUALA LUMPUR: There is a drastic increase in the number of Iranians arrested for drug trafficking in Malaysia, from only 16 last year to 138 people as of Oct 5 this year. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said off the 138 people arrested this year, 121 of them were drug mules.
"The main drug often smuggled into the country is the Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS) and police information also shows that Syabu is also being smuggled in air cargo in flights from Tehran, through transits in Dubai, Armenia, Kish, Doha, Colombo, before arriving in Malaysia," he said in a statement Friday.
Abu Seman, who had just returned from a five-day working visit to Iran, said that during discussions with the Iranian authorities, he had raised the issue of Iranians detained in Malaysia for drug trafficking and possession. He emphasised the need for cooperation by authorities in both countries to beef up efforts to eliminate the problem.
"An action plan has been drafted to look into several areas, like periodical meetings between the enforcement agencies of both countries, exchange of information and cooperation to stop Iranians from being used as drug mules, sharing of expertise in the detection of drug syndicates and the setting up of a working group to enhance cooperation in drug addiction and smuggling," he added.
During the visit, Abu Seman said, the Malaysian delegation also had the opportunity to visit the Iranian's drug treatment programme. "I hope the programme can be absorbed and implemented at the 1Malaysia Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation clinic which has been in operation since last July," he added. - Bernama
