Drug syndicates are flooding Asia with record levels of drugs, with Malaysia seemingly a key distribution hub.
R.AGE investigates the young mules being tricked into moving the drugs, following their trail all the way to the top.

LATEST ON THE MALAYSIAN DRUG TRADE

Here's the story of two teenage Malaysians who were arrested in Taiwan
for drug trafficking

How Malaysians Become Drug Mules

This is how young Malaysians are recruited into the dangerous world of transporting drugs.

Drug syndicates are using social media with devastating effect. They recruit impressionable young people - including teenagers - by promising them free holidays or high-paying courier jobs.

When mules are arrested, they are left to rot in prison - or face the death penalty - while the syndicate members get off scot-free.

Chat with a recruiter.

*Actual messages from a drug mule recruiter to R.AGE undercover journalists

Drug syndicates are using social media with devastating effect. They recruit impressionable young people - including teenagers - by promising them free holidays or high-paying courier jobs.

When mules are arrested, they are left to rot in prison - or face the death penalty - while the syndicate members get off scot-free.

*Actual messages from a drug mule recruiter to R.AGE undercover journalists

Family members of drug mules race against time to find evidence that the mules were tricked. Some have been threatened by the syndicates.

“A lot of local gangsters tried to threaten me, but I’m not scared of them, because I have the evidence,” said Thinesh, who is gathering information about the drug syndicate that hired his sister.

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Bringing “Shirley” home

The family of a convicted drug mule travels to Hong Kong with the hopes of finding evidence to reduce her prison sentence.

MALAYSIAN DRUG MULES: VIGNESH

A single mother talks about the pain of having her son locked up abroad as a drug mule.

Read the handwritten letters by young Malaysian inmates caught for drug smuggling.

In Hong Kong, a drug-busting priest is taking on these drug syndicates.

Through his work as a prison chaplain, he gathers evidence from imprisoned drug mules to expose “the big fish” - suspected drug lords.

“I think it’s absolutely evil what these drug barons are doing. They recruit these innocent, impressionable young people who are desperate for money, and make them do their dirty work.” - Father John Wotherspoon

The priest has come to Malaysia, where he and the mules’ families are working to stop the syndicates. Will they succeed?

Watch the documentary or read the full story to find out

How young Malaysians are recruited into the drug trade

The priest has come to Malaysia, where he and the mules’ families are working to stop the syndicates. Will they succeed?

Watch the documentary or read the full story to find out.

Documentary Premieres 30 June 2019