Bandar Seri Begawan - In the first-of-its-kind case of smuggling marijuana hidden inside the mouth, a pair of local students aged 22 and 23 years were detained by the Narcotics Control Bureau with the cooperation of Royal Customs and Excise Department.

The male and female students were detained at the Brunei International Airport upon their arrival from a neighbouring country by the enforcement personnel.

According to a statement from the Narcotics Control Bureau, during a search, utensils used for the consumption of the controlled drug were found. One of the suspects, the male student, tried to elude the enforcement personnel by hiding the drug inside his mouth, but after a detailed examination, the drug was uncovered by the officers.

The modus operandi of hiding drugs inside the mouth is new but diligent officers from the Narcotics Control Bureau managed to find them.

The new modus operandi, however, shows the changing and dynamic trend in trying to hide and smuggle drugs into the country.

Both suspects will be investigated under Section 5, Section 7 and Section 6(b) of Misuse of Drugs Act Chapter 27 for offences involving Class B drug of marijuana.

Under Section 5 of importing and exporting drugs into the country, both will face a minimum imprisonment of five years and five strokes of the cane if they are found guilty.

The Narcotics Control Bureau has reminded the public that the bureau would continue its efforts to track down and find any individual or parties who are involved in the misuse of drugs in a bid to safeguard the security of the nation and its people from the dangers of drugs. --Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin