KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's strategic location and extensive transport networks have made the country vulnerable to exploitation by international drug syndicates seeking to move illicit substances across borders.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said police intelligence and enforcement operations have identified the risk of Malaysia being used as a transit point for international drug smuggling and trafficking activities.
He said organised crime syndicates could take advantage of the country's extensive air, land and maritime connections to bring drugs into Malaysia, either for distribution in the domestic market or onward shipment to other countries.
"Based on intelligence findings and enforcement operations by the police, Malaysia has been identified as facing the threat of being exploited as one of the transit routes for international drug smuggling and trafficking activities.
"Malaysia's strategic geographical position and extensive air, land and maritime transport networks could be exploited by organised crime syndicates to bring in drugs before distributing them in the local market or sending them to other destination countries,” he said.
He said this in a written parliamentary reply on Thursday (Nov 5), in response to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), who asked whether Malaysia had become a transit point for international drug production and trafficking syndicates.
Saifuddin said the police, through the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, were intensifying intelligence gathering and enforcement operations to dismantle entire trafficking networks rather than focusing solely on those directly handling the drugs.
"This includes suppliers, those coordinating the movement of drugs, financiers and distributors, alongside strengthening cooperation with international enforcement agencies.
"Controls at airports, ports and land borders are also being reinforced to curb smuggling activities.
Saifuddin also revealed that the Cabinet had approved a joint memorandum between the Home Ministry and Transport Ministry on Aug 19 following several security incidents at the country's entry points.
He said the memorandum concerned a proposed security improvement and mitigation action plan aimed at strengthening security controls and screening procedures at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and other international entry points.
"The action plan comprises 17 substantive recommendations developed around three main security pillars, namely aviation security, national and border security, and physical security and protection.
"Its implementation will be carried out in phases, covering the short term of zero to six months, medium term of six to 24 months, and long term of more than 24 months,” he said.
The measures are intended to strengthen security and screening at international gateways as authorities seek to prevent criminal syndicates from exploiting Malaysia's position in regional and international transport networks. -THE STAR