KUCHING, Oct. 17 -- A Sarawakian husband and wife allegedly recruited three friends to traffic cocaine into Japan, said Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan.

The Star reported that each of the three friends was paid RM8,000 and was believed to have known they were carrying contraband.

"We believe they knew what they were carrying. At the very least, they knew they were carrying something illegal," he said at a press conference at Johor police headquarters on Friday.

Hussein said the couple had invited their three friends on what was presented as a holiday in Japan.

Each was given a pair of shoes containing concealed drugs before travelling to Kuala Lumpur International Airport ...