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The Saudi Ministry of Interior disclosed that its General Directorate of Narcotics Control provided actionable intelligence to Malaysian counterparts, resulting in the disruption of a significant ketamine smuggling operation. Security spokesperson Brig. Gen. Talal bin Abdulmohsen bin Shalhoub explained that the information stemmed from proactive surveillance of criminal drug trafficking networks. This collaboration led the Royal Malaysian Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit to intercept 505.6 kilograms of the substance, the spokesperson added in the statement released through the Saudi Press Agency.
The raid took place on July 21 at a warehouse in Section 27 of Shah Alam, where the ketamine was hidden in commercial packaging mixed with cocoa powder. Malaysian Customs director-general Datuk Seri Amran Ahmad reported that officers found 119 packages of white powder and chunks during the inspection. One Malaysian suspect in his 30s was detained at the location and subsequently charged, according to the director-general who addressed the matter at a press conference.
Amran Ahmad indicated during the September 4 briefing that the seizure formed the cornerstone of four successful operations in the Selangor region over a two-week period in July, yielding a total of 722.9 kilograms of drugs estimated at RM42.8 million in value. Those actions also netted cannabis, MDMA and methamphetamine while four individuals were arrested overall, the Malaysian official said. The director-general described Malaysia as an increasingly popular transit hub for international syndicates seeking to move consignments toward European markets, with some shipments traced to origins in Spain and the Netherlands.
Bin Shalhoub commended the seamless operational partnership between Saudi and Malaysian security bodies, which he said illustrates strong bilateral coordination against transnational criminal organizations. The Saudi spokesperson noted that the joint effort reflects the level of security integration between the two countries in confronting cross-border criminal networks. He affirmed that Saudi Arabia remains vigilant in tracking and dismantling criminal syndicates that target national security and youth with narcotics.
A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime assessment found that ketamine seizures in East and Southeast Asia totaled 23.3 tons in 2023, remaining at significantly high levels compared with prior years. Malaysian authorities have worked closely with foreign enforcement agencies including those in Saudi Arabia to exchange intelligence and combat the flow of synthetic drugs, according to Amran Ahmad. The latest interdiction forms part of these sustained regional efforts to address production and distribution networks that UNODC data links to a multi-billion dollar illicit economy.
Investigations by Malaysian officials revealed the consignment was likely intended for further export rather than domestic consumption. The successful operation comes as part of ongoing intelligence exchanges that have produced multiple disruptions in recent months. Additional details on related cases remain under review by the involved agencies.
