Three Malaysian men have been handed the death penalty after being convicted of trafficking close to 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine, in what was once the largest drug bust in the country’s history.
Authorities revealed that the narcotics were discovered on a fish farm, hidden inside 2,000 packets of Chinese tea. The total weight seized was 1,482.96 kg, and the concealment method was highlighted by Johor High Court judge Abu Bakar Katar as a significant factor in deciding their fate. The sheer quantity of drugs was also a critical consideration, as it posed an immense danger to public health and safety.
The haul, made public through a statement by Johor police at the time, was so massive that officers reportedly struggled to fit all the confiscated packets into one photo. Images shared online showed senior police figures posing alongside the stacks of drugs, visibly astonished by the scale of the operation.
Largest Drug Seizure of Its Time
Valued at RM103.2 million (approximately S$34 million), the seizure was initially described as weighing 2.06 tonnes, although official court proceedings later confirmed the 1.48-tonne figure. This bust held the record for the biggest methamphetamine seizure in Malaysia until 2020, when authorities intercepted more than 2.16 tonnes in a separate operation.
The court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s firm stance on large-scale drug trafficking, even as Malaysia’s legal landscape evolves. In 2023, the country abolished the mandatory death penalty, allowing judges greater discretion in sentencing for serious crimes. However, in this case, the scale and circumstances of the offence justified the ultimate penalty.
Death Sentences Amid Moratorium on Executions
Despite the ruling, it remains unclear when – or if – the executions will be carried out. Malaysia has maintained a moratorium on executions since 2018, meaning all death sentences have been effectively put on hold. Until a policy shift occurs, the three convicts will remain on death row.
The case has reignited discussions in Malaysia about the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent against the multi-billion-dollar regional drug trade, which continues to exploit creative methods of smuggling narcotics across borders.