THE Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have exposed three primary methods employed by drug syndicates to smuggle narcotics into and out of the country, including the recruitment of individuals as unwitting ‘drug mules’ through social media and messaging platforms, the use of maritime routes, and the exploitation of international shipping containers.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN) Director, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, detailed the syndicates’ tactics at a press conference for Op Gaharu held at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters.
“Among the methods used is the recruitment of drug mules, where individuals are targeted through platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat.
They are promised free holiday packages or high-paying jobs, but in reality are coerced into transporting drugs,” he said.
Hussein added that traffickers often conceal drugs on the body, swallow narcotic-filled pellets, hide substances in luggage or secret compartments, and use third-country transits to evade detection.
Maritime trafficking was also identified as a major tactic. “Syndicates employ fishing vessels to collect drugs from mother ships before bringing them into Malaysian waters.
This was demonstrated during Op Gombe on 23 April, which disrupted a shipment from the Golden Triangle to Australia via Terengganu, leading to the arrest of two local men and the seizure of 590 kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin base worth RM24.9 million,” Hussein explained.
The third method involves the abuse of international cargo containers. Syndicates declare legitimate goods in customs documentation while hiding large quantities of drugs.
Hussein cited two key examples: Op Borzoi on 25 January, where 33,200 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at RM1.06 billion destined for Sydney, Australia, were seized through collaboration with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and Op Virola on 7 November, which intercepted 45 kilograms of methamphetamine from the Middle East transiting through Port Klang, Selangor, valued at RM1.44 million.
Hussein emphasised that, regardless of the method, JSJN maintains a strong commitment and comprehensive intelligence approach in combating drug trafficking.
“These successes demonstrate that continuous intelligence gathering, rigorous enforcement, and strong community support form the most effective combination to dismantle drug syndicate networks, whether locally or internationally,” he said. -December 20, 2025
