Decision to bring drug mule Syzlin's body home to be known in 2 weeks

Syzlin, from Johor, died in Peru on Oct 7 due to complications of several diseases including asthma and diabetes.

She was 43.

The local media earlier reported that Syzlin, who was used as a drug mule by an international drug syndicate, was jailed for four years and stranded in Peru's capital since 2010.

"The decision whether to bring Syzlin's body home or to bury it in Peru is still being discussed between BiKUM and her family members and next-of-kin. We are also dealing with Wisma Putra and the Malaysian Embassy in Peru in this regard.

"There are several things we need to take into consideration because funeral arrangement for foreign citizen in Peru is complicated as they require approval and involve higher costs," Shamsul Anuar told a media conference here Monday.

Shamsul Anuar said that if the funeral were to be carried out in Peru, at least two of her family members had to be flown to the South American country.

"We were informed by the Wisma Putra that for a foreign citizen to be laid to rest in Peru, the cost would be no less than US$6,000 or about RM25,000. This does not include management cost and the costs to bring the two family member of the deceased there, which will bring the total to up to RM100,000.

"That is indeed very costly as compared to the cost to bring the body home, which would probably be about RM20,000," he said.

Syzlin was among three of the seven drug mules arrested by the Peruvian authorities since 2007, who were in the process of being brought back to Malaysia by BiKUM.

Besides Syzlin, BiKUM is also trying to bring home Noor Azimah Sapie, 37, from Terengganu and Noor Suzanna Azmi, 35, from Kuala Lumpur and their respective family members.

Shamsul Anuar said Noor Azimah, who is a single mother, was expected to return home with her son Qistina Maisara Alarcon Sapie, while Noor Suzanna would bring along her husband Garle Lever Quispe Sanchez and her two children, Muhammad Duler Akasyah Salas Azmi and Garlin Junior Quispe Azmi.

Noor Azimah was abandoned by the drug trafficking syndicate in Peru after being denied entrance to the United States, and had been stranded in Peru for almost 10 years.

Noor Suzanna, on the other hand, was stranded in Peru after serving a four-year prison term.

"We hope to bring all of them home and help educate and prevent the public, especially young women and teenagers, from falling victims to international drug syndicates," Shamsul Anuar said, hoping that the deal could be resolved immediately by Wisma Putra, so that all of them could be taken home before end of this year.