Why did our authorities fail to stop drug mules into Singapore?

DAP’s international affairs bureau secretary Kasthuri Patto questioned the failure of authorities in failing to stop and search drug mules before they crossed into Singapore.

“The burning and inevitable question here is why were they not apprehended by the Malaysian customs or the police force on Malaysian soil? Did the Malaysian officers not know of the packages on these men or in their vehicles? Or were they aware of it but “allowed” them to pass through the Malaysian border checkpoint into the Singapore checkpoint so that they can be apprehended there?

“Was it the policy of the Government and enforcement officers that smugglers should be dealt with by the authorities of the country they are entering? These men were arrested on their attempts to smuggle drugs into Singapore.

“If this is the norm, then I believe it is high time that the Malaysian authorities at checkpoints and border patrols invest and increase resources and expertise in terms of hardware and software to nab these drug mules from trans-border transporting of drugs.

“It will give a greater insight to the police, customs and immigration enforcement officers on who the traffickers and recruiters are who prey on unsuspecting victims, often poor and marginalised – conned, coerced, blackmailed and threatened to transport drugs across the border. Malaysian enforcement authorities must be equipped to be able to identify drug smugglers at our own border checkpoints on our own soil in order to retrieve vital information on drug syndicates.

She said this following the execution of K Datchinamurthy on Sept 25 who was hanged to death after he was detained for trafficking diamorphine at the Woodlands Checkpoint in January 2011.

Other Malaysians on death row include Pannir Selvam, and S Saminathan.

Prabagaran Srivijayan and Nagaenthiran Dharmalingam have already been executed in Singapore.

Kasthuri further added that the Malaysian authorities can arrest, charge and convict drug traffickers without the need to opt for death penalty since Malaysia has already abolished mandatory death penalty.