Drug Syndicates Continue To Use Malaysia As Transit Hub - Ayob Khan

GEORGE TOWN, April 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia continues to face challenges as an international drug transit hub, with illicit substances believed to be trafficked from the Golden Triangle through northern Peninsular routes before being distributed to other destinations.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said Malaysia’s strategic location and proximity to the Golden Triangle have long made it a key corridor for international drug syndicates.

“Malaysia has long served as a transit point for drugs produced in the Golden Triangle entering via the northern (part of the) peninsula. We are not a producing country, but a transit country, although a small portion is also consumed domestically.

“Based on statistics, the total value of drug and poison seizures stood at RM3.1 billion, with RM915 million worth of drugs seized this year alone as of March,” he told reporters after attending a forum organised by the Penang Crime Consciousness and Public Safety Society (CCPSS) here today.

He said enforcement operations against drug syndicates are carried out continuously, reflecting the police’s firm commitment to disrupting networks that continue to exploit Malaysia as a transit route.

Ayob Khan said syndicates primarily use sea and land routes in the northern part of the Peninsula, while routes to Sabah and Sarawak involve both sea and air, including arrests at airports.

Acknowledging that the country’s borders are porous and difficult to fully secure, he said intelligence-driven operations remain critical in tackling such activities.

He added that police maintain close cooperation with anti-drug agencies in neighbouring countries, including Thailand, to strengthen cross-border enforcement efforts.

In addition, he said the use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) continues to be reinforced to enable action against entire drug trafficking networks.

“Whether syndicate leaders, couriers or those involved in processing drugs, all will be dealt with under an organised crime approach to dismantle entire networks and deliver a greater impact,” he said.

-- BERNAMA