KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 — The Malaysian Prison Department will enhance security measures, including the use of technology, intelligence monitoring, and patrols, to counter the growing threat posed by drones used for criminal activities.
The proactive measures follow the detection and successful prevention of a drone-based attempt to smuggle contraband into the Sungai Udang Prison Complex on Wednesday (July 15).
It said that it is also conducting an internal investigation to determine whether inmates or other parties were involved in the incident.
“Through monitoring and security control measures by the prison, the suspicious activity was detected, and a police report was lodged, enabling enforcement action to be taken.
“Close cooperation with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will continue to be strengthened to ensure security at prison institutions remains at the highest level and attempts to smuggle prohibited items into prisons can be effectively prevented,” the department said in a statement today.
Following the police report, PDRM launched an operation and arrested two local suspects believed to be involved in the smuggling attempt, and seized several related items.
On Friday (July 17), Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar confirmed the arrest of a 46-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman during a raid at Taman Kris Satria, Sungai Udang, following an attempt to smuggle tobacco into the prison.
Based on preliminary investigations, the male suspect, who has 12 prior criminal records, admitted to flying the drone to survey the intended landing site, allegedly in collaboration with an inmate.
Meanwhile, the department stressed that it would not tolerate any violations of the law or misconduct that could jeopardise the security and order of prison institutions.
Similarly, it will not comment further on the case as the police investigation is ongoing, and urged the public not to speculate.
