KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Drug smugglers’ increasingly sophisticated methods require more advanced detection technology at the country’s entry points to ensure syndicates cannot evade authorities, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said current scanners at airports are no longer sufficient as their technology was developed to detect weapons and explosives, rather than prohibited substances such as drugs concealed using more complex methods.
In this regard, he said new analytical facilities are being set up to improve drug detection capabilities.
“The facilities available are based on old technology, while smuggling methods have become more sophisticated and, at times, drugs concealed on the body cannot be detected. That is true.
“That is why new analytical facilities are now being provided to detect drugs, in addition to the K9 (Detection Dog) unit. Sometimes, the presence of these dogs also poses an issue for some passengers. This new facility has been acquired, but for now, it is only available at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport),” he said during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar was answering a supplementary question from Datuk Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) about whether the government will explore alternatives to detect increasingly sophisticated drug smuggling moves, given that airport scanners were designed to only detect explosives and weapons.
The prime minister said the new detection technology should be expanded to other airports as syndicates have started shifting their operations to other entry points, including Penang, Alor Setar, Kota Bharu and Ipoh.
“We need to provide more sophisticated technological and analytical facilities. This is exactly what the MP has pointed out, as criminals are also using sophisticated equipment and facilities that cannot be detected.
“I came across a report, for example, in which drugs were present but could not be detected during an inspection using the existing discovery equipment. However, with the new analytical equipment, hopefully, God willing, this can be reduced,” he said.
Anwar added that the government will tighten security controls with the Home Ministry (KDN) and the Transport Ministry (MOT) with new measures and initiatives.
Meanwhile, he said integrated enforcement operations from January to October this year resulted in 93 arrests involving attempts to smuggle 2.56kg of drugs worth RM202.7 million through the country’s entry points.
“As for enforcement by AKPS (Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency), these figures involve drugs only, but AKPS has recorded 44 seizure cases involving RM11.22 million.
“Since the action plan was implemented from August to October, 41 seizure cases worth RM42.38 million were recorded. I want to stress that these operations must be intensified,” he said.
To support the need for advanced technological assets and comprehensive operations, Anwar said the allocation for AKPS had been increased significantly from RM37 million last year to RM490 million this year.
“Special inspection operations have now reached 100 per cent. Previously, there were protests when body searches were conducted, but now K9 detection dogs are being used for drug-related cases. Therefore, inspections are continuing, including on flights to Indonesia, London, Paris, Singapore, Kolkata, Tiruchirappalli, Delhi, Hong Kong, Doha and Auckland.
“This involved 3,637 flights, including 19,721 flight crew members, 438,000 passenger pat-downs and inspections of 599,700 pieces of baggage. The investigations have indeed identified prohibited items,” he said.
The prime minister also praised and congratulated the Criminal Investigation Department for the arrest of 282 people in the two-day Op Dadu, aimed at crippling illegal online gambling and unlicensed public lottery rings, when answering a question from Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) about the government’s measures to tighten security controls and address inter-agency coordination weaknesses following the recent increase in drug and goods smuggling cases via entry points like KLIA and Subang airport.
