[FalHaitle]

Wednesday March 28, 2012

African group targeting Indians to be drug mules

KUALA LUMPUR: An African drug smuggling syndicate is targeting the Indian community, especially those who are poor and from rural areas, to be drug mules.

In a joint press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints De**partment head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, MIC Youth chief T. Mohan said the syndicate attracted potential victims by offering a job with a monthly salary of between RM6,000 and RM8,000.

Mohan said the African employers would then send them overseas for “training” or “business trips” to countries like China, Thailand and Singapore while hiding drugs in the victims’ hand luggage or jackets.

On March 14, it was reported that a 30-year-old man was caught for smuggling drugs after his African employer sent him to Shanghai on a business trip.

His mother M. Athilakshimi complained to MCA Public Services and Complaints De**partment, saying Vijendran Iyamuthu was offered a job with a RM6,000 monthly salary and overseas working trips.

Chong said he was shocked to discover that the problem was much more rampant than what was reported to his department.

Of the 1,941 Malaysian detainees overseas, 341 are Indians.

“Over 200 are being detained, and eight in China and Singapore are awaiting execution,” Chong said.