POLICE are intensifying efforts to dismantle entire drug trafficking syndicates as the country’s role as a key regional transit hub comes under renewed scrutiny following a sharp rise in narcotics seizures.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitcha said nearly RM1 billion worth of illicit drugs had been confiscated in the first quarter of the year, highlighting both the scale of trafficking activity and sustained enforcement pressure.
"Malaysia has always been a transit country. We are not a producer, but a transit point," he said, emphasising that only a small fraction of the drugs entering the country is intended for local consumption.
He noted that narcotics originating from the Golden Triangle continue to be funnelled into Peninsular Malaysia through northern corridors before being redistributed to international markets, reflecting long-established trafficking routes.
Authorities seized RM3.1 billion worth of drugs last year, while total seizures had already reached RM915 million by March this year, underscoring the persistence of organised crime networks.
Ayob Khan said enforcement strategy has evolved beyond intercepting shipments to targeting the full structure of trafficking operations.
"The approach now is to take action against the entire network — the masterminds, transporters and those involved in processing — so the impact is more comprehensive.
"Without such measures, key syndicate figures often evade arrest even when drug consignments are seized," New Straits Times reported him saying today.
He added that operations by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department have been relentless, with successful crackdowns reported almost weekly.
On trafficking routes, he said syndicates exploit multiple channels to move drugs into the country.
"Drugs come in through land, sea and air," he said, pointing to northern border regions as major entry points, while air couriers continue to be intercepted at airports.
He acknowledged that Malaysia’s extensive and porous borders remain a significant enforcement challenge.
"It is difficult to fully control all entry points. That is why intelligence and close cooperation with neighbouring countries, such as Thailand, are critical," he said.
Northern states such as Penang and Kedah continue to serve as key transit nodes due to their proximity to Thailand, as authorities step up intelligence-led operations and cross-border collaboration to disrupt trafficking networks at every level. - April 23, 2026
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