KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — The Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) has secured Cabinet approval for an additional 1,000 posts to strengthen its operational capacity and tackle increasingly sophisticated drug trafficking syndicates.
Bukit Aman NCID director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the application, submitted through the Home Ministry (KDN), was approved by the Cabinet last month, but the implementation will require further coordination and discussions with the Public Service Department (JPA).
"We need more personnel to establish several new units, including one to investigate online drug trafficking and another to handle cases involving international networks.
"Special teams are also needed to monitor courier and other service providers, as well as drug trafficking activities involving cargo containers," he told the media after the NCID Intelligence and Operations Division appreciation ceremony today.
Hussein added that the current manpower shortage has limited the number of their operations, and that more personnel at the district and contingent levels will strengthen efforts to combat drug trafficking.
NCID has seized nearly 70 tonnes of drugs in the first 10 months of this year, compared with 89 tonnes throughout last year.
In a related development, he said they are examining the information shared by authorities in Brunei and Mauritius to identify drug syndicate networks and supply sources linked to Malaysians arrested in the two countries.
In the Brunei case, a Malaysian man was arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs from Sarawak to Sabah via the neighbouring country's land route.
"Brunei authorities have shared information with us for follow-up investigations to determine the source of the drugs and identify others involved in the network," Hussein said.
Regarding the Mauritius case, two of the three Malaysians arrested were a married couple, while the third was believed to have been recruited through a holiday package offer.
He said the suspects had travelled to Bangkok to collect drugs believed to be destined for Mauritius, adding that they were aware of what they were carrying.
The three Malaysians were arrested by Mauritian authorities on November 2 with approximately 76kg of cannabis.
