Kuala lumpur: With 80 per cent of drugs entering Malaysia via sea routes, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is stepping up patrols and strengthening its fleet with new vessels and aircraft to curb cross-border smuggling. MMEA Director-General Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the agency remains on high alert and will continue to enhance maritime surveillance and enforcement to prevent drug syndicates from exploiting national waters.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Admiral Mohd Rosli emphasized that MMEA will not compromise on any attempt to smuggle drugs into the country via sea and stressed the agency’s responsibility in protecting every inch of Malaysia’s maritime borders. He acknowledged that Malaysia’s waters are a prime target for international drug syndicates, which use sea routes as their ‘safe passage’ into the country.
He made the statement following Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s disclosure yesterday that the majority of drug supplies entering Malaysia come through maritime routes. From 2020 to June 2025, MMEA recorded 117 drug-related seizures nationwide, valued at nearly RM200 million.
Admiral Mohd Rosli stated that these figures are significant and each seizure represents a substantial effort in saving lives from drug addiction. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to intensifying operations and intelligence work with other enforcement agencies to counteract this ongoing issue.
To boost enforcement capabilities, MMEA has deployed the KM Tun Fatimah patrol vessel in the South China Sea and stationed new-generation patrol boats at hotspot areas. The agency is also expecting several new assets, including the Ex-USCG Cutter Steadfast patrol ship in November, an AW189 helicopter in 2026, and a Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) from Turkiye in 2027.
Admiral Mohd Rosli expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for approving the acquisitions through the Home Ministry, highlighting that these assets will enhance the agency’s physical capabilities as well as its monitoring and operational readiness at sea. Home Minister Saifuddin had earlier stated that MMEA is tasked with securing 680,000 square kilometres of Malaysian waters.