Accra:The Home Ministry is amplifying digital intelligence, border control, and inter-agency cooperation to combat synthetic drug trafficking in Sarawak. This initiative comes in response to increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by drug syndicates.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah highlighted that the measures include monitoring digital platforms, social media, courier services, and e-hailing services. These channels are being exploited by syndicates to distribute drugs, even in remote areas of Sarawak.
Sarawak's vast geographical area and extensive borders pose significant challenges for enforcement agencies striving to prevent drug smuggling and entry into the state. The Home Ministry has identified several contributing factors to the proliferation of synthetic drugs, such as lower processing costs, easy access to precursor chemicals, and the exploitation of online platforms by syndicates.
The ministry is also enhancing its forensic and technical intelligence capabilities to address the emergence of new psychoactive substances and respond to evolving trends in synthetic drugs. This was part of the response to a question from Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) during a session in the Dewan Rakyat, concerning the causes of rising drug abuse in Sarawak's urban areas, the effectiveness of enforcement by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and plans to curb the issue.
Statistics from the PDRM's Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) indicate that Sarawak recorded 9,602 drug-related cases and 9,924 arrests between January 1 and August 31 this year, an increase from 7,488 cases and 7,790 arrests during the same period last year. Arrests increased by 2,134, or 27.4 percent, with drugs valued at RM50.1 million seized during this period, compared to RM58.78 million throughout 2025.
In 2025, there were 12,716 cases and 13,187 arrests, up from 9,992 cases and 10,378 arrests in 2024, representing a 27 percent rise. Shamsul Anuar stated that the PDRM's NCID dismantled 270 drug syndicates nationwide in 2025 and continues to target their financial networks while strengthening cooperation among relevant agencies.