Singaporean trio held in Malaysia’s US$1.7 million cocaine vape bust
The latest arrests spotlight Malaysia’s emerging role as a ‘transit point’ for narcotic trafficking
Three Singaporean men have been arrested in a Malaysian drug bust of US$1.7 million worth of cocaine-laced vape liquid destined for sale overseas, in a case spotlighting Kuala Lumpur’s emerging role as a hub for a new generation of narcotics delivered through e-cigarettes.
On Monday, Malaysia’s federal narcotics department announced the seizure of nearly 5,000 cartridges of the cocaine-laced liquid from a vehicle parked at a hotel in Ampang, an upscale suburb east of the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
“The drugs are estimated to be worth 7.2 million ringgit (US$1.7 million), and investigations revealed that the syndicate used Malaysia as a transit point, shipping the liquids abroad via air courier services,” said federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department Director Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali.
A 57-year-old Malaysian and three Singaporean men aged between 25 and 46 were arrested in the sting, police said, which took place last Thursday. Police believe the suspects had been operating from a rented condominium in the area since March.
It was unclear if the liquid was for use in e-cigarettes – or a ruse to smuggle the cocaine from Malaysia. “This is Malaysia’s first case involving cocaine in vape form. We believe the syndicate used this method to avoid detection and ease international delivery,” Salahuddin said.
Vaping is surging across the Asia-Pacific, particularly among young people, and drug-laced vape liquids are also becoming a growing concern. In Malaysia, two Taiwanese nationals were arrested last month for operating an amphetamine lab producing similar liquids in a Kuala Lumpur flat.
The arrests follow a joint Malaysia-Australia operation last year that thwarted a plot to smuggle over half a tonne of drugs into Australia, including 120kg (265lbs) of so-called pink cocaine and amphetamine sent from Italy.
In the latest bust, police said each vape cartridge contained 1.9ml (0.07oz) of cocaine-laced liquid, valued at 1,500 ringgit (US$352), placing it well beyond the reach of many average Southeast Asian drug users. “This type of cocaine is rare in the region and is typically used by the elite,” Salahuddin said.
Malaysian health experts have been raising the alarm over similar products – known locally as “pedem” – laced with dangerous and cheaper compounds such as ketamine and amphetamines. Often marketed as “magic mushrooms”, pedem has been linked to hallucinations, seizures, mental breakdowns and long-term psychiatric damage.
“It is cheap and easy to find,” said Raja Azizan Suhaimi, secretary general of the Malaysian Substance Abuse Council. “But frequent use can cause lasting harm.”
Unlike neighbouring Singapore, which banned vapes in 2018, Malaysia has taken a more liberal approach, allowing tobacco-laced vape liquids to be sold openly. This regulatory gap has enabled rampant smuggling and may be fuelling the rise of designer drug-laced vapour products across the region.
In January, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that a criminal syndicate had been paying customs officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport up to US$45,000 a month to turn a blind eye to millions of dollars’ worth of unregulated vapes flowing through the country since 2023.
“Our investigations have just begun, and we are identifying other suspects and those involved in the smuggling activity,” MACC chief Azam Baki told reporters then.
