Bag of crystal meth (symbolic image)
Photo: David Ebener / picture alliance / dpa
In Malaysia, the Coast Guard seized a record amount of crystal meth.
The head of the authorities Zubil Mat Som told the AFP news agency on Sunday that 2.1 tons of the drug were found on a boat in the north of the country.
This is "the largest seizure in the 15-year history of the Coast Guard."
On Wednesday there was a chase between the coast guard and a suspected boat off the island of Penang.
A 26-year-old suspect was arrested.
During the inspection of the boat, 130 bags of methamphetamine were found - disguised as Chinese tea.
According to the Coast Guard, the drugs have a sales value of more than 21 million euros.
It is believed that the intercepted shipment was smuggled through the so-called Golden Triangle in the border region between Myanmar, Laos and northern Thailand and was destined for neighboring countries.
Dealers there could obtain higher prices than in Malaysia.
Irrevocable brain damage
The region is one of the most important drug hubs in Asia.
In Malaysia, laws provide for the death penalty for convicted drug smugglers.
Crystal meth has a stimulating effect and suppresses feelings of fear.
That is why German soldiers also received the substance in pill form during the Second World War.
At that time there was also talk of "Panzerschokolade" or "Hermann Göring Pills".
The risk of addiction is great.
In 2010, British researchers looked at which drugs cause the greatest harm to users.
Crystal meth came in third behind heroin and crack.
In the long term, crystal meth can irreversibly damage nerve cells in the brain, some people suffer from paranoia, depression and cannot sleep for days.
You will no longer feel hunger, thirst or pain.
Icon: The mirror
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