Malaysian drug rings use social media to trick youth with fake job offers, leading to over 50 arrests in 2025.

Malaysian drug syndicates are increasingly using social media to recruit young people with fake job offers promising free trips, luxury stays, and quick cash, often concealing their role as drug mules. In 2023, Jason Cheah was lured by a post offering a paid trip to South Korea, only to be arrested at Kuala Lumpur Airport after carrying methamphetamines hidden in shoes. He received a 30-year sentence and 12 cane strokes. Authorities report over 50 arrests between January and September 2025 linked to drug smuggling schemes, with experts warning that sudden wealth, secretive travel, or unexplained purchases may signal involvement. The trend highlights how social media enables anonymous, nationwide recruitment, prompting calls for public vigilance against seemingly too-good-to-be-true offers.