Police say 29-year-old was allegedly recruited online to carry luggage to London.
A 29-year-old Singaporean man was arrested at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh, Malaysia, after authorities discovered approximately 19kg of suspected cannabis flowers in his checked baggage. Police believe he was recruited through an online job offer to transport the luggage to London.
Police Find 36 Packages in Luggage
The 29-year-old unemployed Singaporean was arrested at approximately 6:20 a.m. on November 8 after auxiliary police searched his checked baggage at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport. Officers discovered 36 plastic packages containing approximately 19.04kg of suspected dried cannabis flowers, valued at RM1.5 million (about S$473,000), according to Malaysian police.
Suspect Was Heading to London via Singapore
Perak police chief Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the man was scheduled to travel from Ipoh to London via Singapore. According to police, he arrived in Kuala Lumpur on November 7 and stayed at a hotel in Kajang, where investigators believe he collected the luggage before taking an e-hailing vehicle to Ipoh.
Online Job Allegedly Promised S$4,000
Preliminary investigations indicated that the man had responded to an online job offer promising more than RM12,500 (approximately S$4,000) to transport luggage to London. Police said he had allegedly been told that the suitcase contained counterfeit branded goods rather than drugs. Investigators suspect that a drug-trafficking syndicate used lucrative delivery offers to recruit couriers.
Police Say Less Busy Airports Are Being Targeted
Mohd Alwi said drug-trafficking syndicates were increasingly using less busy airports in an attempt to avoid detection. Police estimated that the seized cannabis could have supplied approximately 47,900 drug users. The suspect tested negative in a preliminary drug screening, and police said he had no previous criminal record.
Suspect Faces Serious Trafficking Investigation
The man was remanded for seven days while police investigate the case under Section 39B of Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. A conviction under the provision can carry the death penalty or life imprisonment with caning. He remains a suspect, and no conviction has been reported.
The Ipoh arrest highlights the serious risks associated with accepting overseas delivery jobs without knowing exactly what is being transported. For Singaporeans and Indonesians who frequently travel through Malaysia and other regional transit points, the case underscores the importance of independently checking luggage and avoiding requests to carry packages for unknown individuals or unverified employers.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , Straits Times (2026)
Keywords: Singaporean Arrested Malaysia, Ipoh Airport Drug Bust, Cannabis Smuggling, Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, Drug Mule, Malaysia Drug Trafficking
