KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) recorded a twofold increase in drug-related cases at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), with 108 cases detected between January and July this year, compared with 54 cases during the corresponding period in 2025.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) Director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said arrests also rose sharply, with 121 individuals detained compared with 57 during the same period last year.
He said 42 of those arrested this year were foreign nationals believed to have been involved in drug trafficking activities through the country's main gateway.
"The NCID's efforts to disrupt drug supply chains have produced encouraging results, with supply and distribution cases increasing from 18 during the corresponding period last year to 47 this year.
"The number of suspected traffickers arrested also nearly tripled, rising from 21 to 59 individuals," he said in a statement posted on the department's official Facebook page today.
Hussein said intelligence-led operations and enhanced surveillance successfully foiled attempts to smuggle 1,353.41kg of drugs into and out of the country, a sharp increase from the 235.36kg seized during the same period last year.
He said the drugs confiscated this year were estimated to be worth RM108.35 million, compared with RM18.46 million last year.
The department also detected a shift in syndicates' modus operandi, with a growing trend in the smuggling of cannabis flower.
Seizures of cannabis flower surged to 1,251.18kg this year from just 82.98kg during the same period in 2025, while ketamine seizures rose to 16.51kg from 2.15kg.
Hussein said intelligence gathered by the KLIA District Narcotics Crime Investigation Division also enabled police to dismantle drug trafficking networks through five separate operations in Sepang, Selangor, and Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, this year.
"The operations resulted in the seizure of 367.83kg of cannabis flower worth RM29.43 million, including the largest single seizure of 153.68kg in Mambau, Seremban, as well as four raids in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang.”
He attributed the success to close cooperation and integrated enforcement efforts between the NCID and the Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) Auxiliary Police.
"Rapid intelligence sharing, integrated monitoring and stringent security controls by the MAHB Auxiliary Police at the country's main entry points played a crucial role in foiling the syndicate's smuggling operations.”
Hussein stressed that PDRM would not allow any syndicate to use KLIA or any other national entry point as a transit hub for drug trafficking.
He added that cooperation with border enforcement agencies would continue to be strengthened to track down and dismantle drug syndicates and bring those involved to justice.
Members of the public with information on drug-related activities are urged to contact the NCID hotline at 012-2087222.
