Five Malaysians detained at Haneda with cocaine in their shoe insoles: Bukit Aman's message for anyone flying to Japan

This week's news · Checked 2026-10-17

What happened. On Friday 10 October 2026, Japanese Customs detained five Malaysians (two men, three women, aged 19 to 26) at Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, after finding 5 kg of cocaine hidden in the insoles of the shoes they were wearing. Six people had left KLIA Terminal 2 together on 9 October; one returned to Malaysia. Five are from Sarawak and none had a criminal record (Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, quoted by Bernama, 14 Oct 2026). Follow-up reports say they were promised RM8,000 each for the "holiday" (NST and The Star, 16 Oct 2026). Bukit Aman is sending a team to Japan to investigate the syndicate's network in Malaysia and abroad.

What it means for you. Bukit Aman's official advice (Bernama, 14 Oct 2026): do not accept holiday offers that require you to carry someone else's bag or items, and never carry anything whose contents you do not know — that is how syndicates turn ordinary travellers into drug mules. For a normal Japan trip, three practical points: (1) pack your own bag and politely refuse if anyone — including new acquaintances or a "travel agent" on social media — asks you to carry a parcel, shoes or gifts; (2) pay for your own flights and hotels in your own name — "free trip, just carry something" is not an offer, it is a warning sign; (3) at Japanese customs, you answer for what is on you and in your bag, not the person who gave it to you. If you are approached with such an offer, report it to the police in Malaysia before you fly.

What to do now. Book your own flights, in your own name: KL → Tokyo (Haneda/Narita) flights on Trip.com (price depends on dates). Prayer rooms at Haneda and Narita after you land: see prayer rooms at Japan's airports.

Sources: Bernama, "Five Malaysians Detained In Tokyo With 5kg Of Cocaine - Police", 14 October 2026; The Star, "Bukit Aman sending team to probe drug bust in Japan involving M'sians", 14 October 2026; NST, 16 October 2026. Photo: Alexander Schimmeck / Unsplash (illustrative, not from the incident). Affiliate links may be used; your price does not change.