SHAH ALAM - The involvement of senior military officers in organised smuggling is a grave national security threat that risks undermining Malaysia’s defence integrity and fuelling other illicit trades.
Manipal University College Malaysia criminologist Nadiah Syariani Md Shariff described the alleged participation of senior military personnel in smuggling operations as a matter of grave concern.
“I see senior military officers’ involvement in organised smuggling as an extremely serious national security threat because it undermines the very core of our country’s defence integrity.
“Their covert assistance can make smuggling operations succeed far more easily than they ever could without insider help.
“We have seen several cases in recent years involving high-ranking enforcement officials, often driven by greed for profits far exceeding their salaries and by leveraging their positions and networks,” she told Sinar Daily.
Nadiah stressed that when a nation’s borders are poorly secured, it creates an image of vulnerability, making Malaysia a prime target for other illicit activities such as human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal firearms.
She described that this can drive violent crime, as seen in recent shootings involving illegal weapons and if not addressed, will erode public trust, heighten fear of crime and destabilise the nation. Ultimately this will hinder progress across all sectors.
From her criminology perspective, she added that insider involvement by high-ranking officers greatly enhances the operations of criminal syndicates.
“Insider involvement by high-ranking officers amplifies a syndicate’s success because it gives criminals access to sensitive intelligence like planned operations, patrol schedules and border surveillance gaps while ensuring leniency in monitoring and reducing the risk of detection.
“It can also lead to the abuse of power to shield syndicates from investigations or prosecutions, as lower-ranking officers may feel powerless to intervene.
“Such collusion thrives in environments where power is over-centralised, whistle-blowers are silenced, financial pressures are high and coordination between agencies is weak,” Nadiah said.
She also cautioned that unchecked corruption at the highest levels could take root within the armed forces.
Nadiah highlighted that when military officers violate public trust, it risks normalising corrupt behaviour, fostering a culture where unethical practices are tolerated throughout the ranks.
“Senior officers might engage out of greed, while lower-ranking personnel could be driven by financial necessity, ultimately sustaining a corrupt ecosystem that corrodes the integrity of the armed forces,” she added.
On Aug 14, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) remanded five senior Armed Forces officers for their alleged involvement in a smuggling syndicate operating in the southern region of Malaysia.
The officers, from the military intelligence division, were accused of colluding with the syndicate and leaking operational information to help them evade enforcement actions.
The five senior officers were among 10 individuals arrested in raids across the Klang Valley, with the remaining detainees including two online media journalists, a company manager, an administrative assistant at the Malaysian Medical Association and a foreign national.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate smuggled drugs, cigarettes and other contraband worth an estimated RM5 million monthly and bribed the officers with RM30,000 to RM50,000 per operation.
MACC seized over RM63,000 in cash, drugs, weighing equipment, liquor and imitation firearms from the premises. Senior MACC official Saiful Ezral Arifin confirmed that the case is being investigated under corruption-related and money laundering offences.