Drug mules: Syndicates lure victims with luxury holidays, lucrative pay

KUALA LUMPUR - Offers of free overseas holidays with luxury amenities and lucrative payouts are among the baits used by drug trafficking syndicates to recruit individuals as drug mules.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said syndicates also offer high-paying jobs and easy earning opportunities to entice individuals to carry luggage or items on their behalf.

He said victims are usually approached through social media, acquaintances, or trusted individuals, including those in debt or facing financial problems.

"Offers that appear attractive, particularly opportunities to travel abroad with luxury perks and handsome financial rewards, serve as a strategy to trick individuals into agreeing to carry luggage or goods for others without realising the true risks involved," he told Bernama.

Hussein said recruits are also assured that they will pass through security checkpoints without problems.

He said awareness among those involved in drug smuggling varies. Some claim they did not know the contents of the items, while others knew their actions were illegal but did it for money.

"Every claim will be objectively examined and evaluated based on obtained evidence, including communication records, financial transactions, and travel information.

"The NCID does not make sweeping generalisations that all drug mules are scam victims, or that all are acting wittingly, rather, determinations are made based on the facts and evidence of each specific case," he said.

Hussein said records show 37 of 72 Malaysians arrested abroad for suspected drug offences between Jan 1 and Oct 15 this year had no prior criminal records.

He said using individuals without criminal records as drug mules is not a new modus operandi but a long-standing strategy employed by syndicates to recruit people from various backgrounds.

He added that said recruitment and manipulation methods continue to evolve, especially through social media, messaging applications, and trusted personal networks.

"It must be emphasised that having no prior criminal record does not prove an individual was unaware of their involvement or had never been involved (in drug trafficking).

"The level of knowledge, intent, and role of each individual must be established through investigative findings and evidence," he said.

At the same time, he dismissed the notion that individuals without criminal records pass through security checks easily, as enforcement authorities rely on intelligence information, travel patterns, behaviour, and other indicators.

In efforts to curb such activities, Hussein said the NCID not only focuses on drug couriers but also works to identify and track entire syndicate networks, including recruiters, travel coordinators, financiers, and kingpins who control and profit from the operations.

He said information obtained from arrests is expanded through intelligence analysis and further investigation, including analysing communication and financial records, mapping connections, and sharing information with foreign enforcement agencies.

In light of this, he reminded the public never to accept offers to carry luggage or items for others without knowing the contents, especially if promised lucrative rewards for simple tasks.

"Every arrest of a drug mule destroys their life and career and carries the risk of a long prison sentence," he said.

Commenting on the detention of 72 Malaysians abroad for suspected drug offences, Hussein said total seizures involved 1,704 kilogrammes of drugs worth RM81.76 million.

He said 48 cases were recorded during the period, involving the arrest of 57 men and 15 women.

"Thailand recorded the highest number of arrests at 19, followed by Indonesia (16), Taiwan and Singapore (eight each), Japan (five), the Philippines (four), India and Hong Kong (three each), Macao (two), while South Korea, Nigeria, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka recorded one each," he said. - BERNAMA