Malaysian drug mules hiding behind Australian Secrecy Act

Malaysian drug mules are using the Australian Secrecy Act to prevent authorities from informing the Malaysian High Commission in Canberra, when they are arrested at airports, charged and sent to jail.

"We are aware that many Malaysians are caught bringing illegal drugs to this country, but they can ask the authorities not to inform us because they don't want their relatives and friends back home to know they are in trouble," Acting High Commissioner Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim told Bernama in a recent interview.

"Even in court, they can ask their names to be suppressed, saying publication of their appearance in court will cause great distress to their ageing parents and grandparents, or their lives could be in jeopardy when they return to Malaysia," he said.

About a couple of years ago, the cases of two Malaysian women, including a mother of four, received much publicity in Malaysia after they were sent to jail for bringing illegal drugs to Melbourne.

Drug mules, who are paid as little as RM3,000, are now being told by their handlers in Malaysia to seek cover under the Australian Secrecy Act where no details of their arrest or jailing were given to the high commission.

"That's why, we do not have exact numbers of people taken into custody for foolishly carrying drugs with them when they come to Australia," said Eldeen Husaini.

"The drug mules are told in Malaysia what to tell the Australian Customs and the police if they are detected bringing in prohibited substances.

"The reason why Australia is a big target for illegal drug imports is not because of the strong Aussie dollar; the main reason is that Australian law does not carry heavy sentences and is more relaxed as compared to Malaysian law.

"That's why, people dare to gamble to come to Australia," he said.

So far this year, the high commission has received just two reports of Malaysians detained on drug charges. "But we know the number is much larger," said Eldeen Husaini.

"From what we are told, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth airports are the main entry points for drug mules. It's our duty to provide consular help to Malaysians in trouble, but if they want to keep us in the dark, we cannot do much to help.

They prefer to seek Australian welfare organisations, including legal aid, to see them through."

Eldeen Husaini said the intriguing part was that most of the female mules blamed their boyfriends, invariably Africans, for sending them on the dangerous journey; yet, they do not know their boyfriends' real names or addresses to enable the Malaysian police to investigate.

"These mainly unsuspecting drug mules are duped by unscrupulous criminals who would not batter an eyelid when their young carriers are caught and jailed."

Eldeen Husaini said the Australian authorities had been wonderful in trying to prevent this scourge, but more could be done to share information and intelligence between Malaysian and Australian police and Custom authorities.

"We would welcome (the gesture) if our high commission is informed as soon as an arrest of a Malaysian is made, for whatever reason or charge."

Eldeen Husaini said the largest amount of drugs imported to Australia in recent years was 15kg in 2011 at the Sydney airport. Two Malaysians are awaiting trial.