Five Malaysians Arrested at Haneda Airport With Cocaine in Shoes
Five Malaysian nationals were arrested at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on October 10 for attempting to smuggle approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of 120 million yen (RM3.1 million), hidden beneath the insoles of their shoes, according to globalnation.inquirer.net. The group—comprising four men and one woman—arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and were intercepted during routine customs inspections.
Customs inspectors flagged one of the travelers after noticing unusually thick-soled shoes, according to reports from Fuji News Network cited by Malaysiakini. An initial search uncovered bags of cocaine concealed beneath the insoles. Each shoe contained 500 grams of the illicit substance, with every suspect carrying roughly 1 kilogram total across their footwear.
Malaysian syndicate recruits struggling individuals via Telegram
Interrogations revealed that the suspects communicated with unknown individuals via the Telegram messaging app to coordinate the transport, according to reports compiled by The Rakyat Post. One of the detained individuals told Japanese authorities they were offered RM8,000 to carry the drugs overseas and were provided with specially prepared footwear designed to conceal the contents.
Police suspect the group was recruited by a Malaysia-based criminal syndicate that targets financially strapped individuals for international drug trafficking, SAYS reported. While four of the suspects admitted to the charges during questioning, a 25-year-old female suspect denied them, claiming she was unaware the packages she carried contained cocaine, according to NHK reports cited by Malaysiakini.
Broader Security Crackdowns on Outbound Flights
The arrests in Tokyo follow a series of similar narcotics interdictions involving Malaysian citizens across the region in recent months. Indonesian authorities detained five Malaysians at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta for allegedly smuggling 5 kilograms of etomidate in their shoes, following a July arrest of a Malaysian pilot caught with 25 kilograms of ecstasy pills, according to SAYS.
In response to these incidents, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that Malaysia’s Home Ministry would implement full physical pat-down screenings and complete baggage inspections for outbound flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to destinations classified as high-risk based on smuggling data, Malaysiakini reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tokyo Cocaine Seizure
How much cocaine did authorities recover from the suspects at Haneda Airport?
Japanese customs officials recovered a total of approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine valued at 120 million yen, or about RM3.1 million, according to Malaysiakini and SAYS.
What specific method did the smugglers use to hide the drugs?
The smugglers concealed 500 grams of cocaine beneath the insoles of each shoe they wore, totaling about 1 kilogram of narcotics per person, as detailed by TBS News DIG and reported by The Rakyat Post.
How much were the couriers promised for transporting the narcotics?
One of the suspects told investigators they were offered RM8,000 via the Telegram messaging app to carry the drugs overseas, according to The Rakyat Post and NST Online.
Are all five suspects admitting to the allegations?
Four of the suspects have admitted to the charges, while a 25-year-old female suspect denied them during police questioning, stating she did not know the packages contained cocaine, according to NHK.
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