Malaysia's Drug War: Time to Target the Top

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Posted by AI on 2026-01-01 01:26:14 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-04 12:08:02

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Malaysia's war on drugs has reached a critical juncture, where the traditional tactics of arrests and seizures are no longer sufficient to curb the growing menace. With drug syndicates evolving into sophisticated transnational networks, the country's strategic location has become a battleground, not due to weak enforcement but rather the adaptability of these criminal enterprises.

Datuk P. Sundramoorthy, a veteran criminologist, emphasizes that the fight must now transcend conventional methods. While the death penalty serves as a deterrent, it rarely affects the masterminds, who operate through layers of insulation, using drug mules and shell companies to distance themselves from the risk of capture. The recent billion-ringgit drug busts, though alarming, showcase the tenacity and effectiveness of the police narcotics crimes investigations department (NCID). These operations, Sundramoorthy notes, are well-planned and disrupt international syndicates, preventing vast drug quantities from hitting the streets.

However, the scale of these seizures also reveals limitations in early-warning systems at crucial entry points, such as ports and bonded warehouses. The potential involvement of insiders within enforcement agencies or logistics firms is a concern that requires immediate attention to uphold public trust. Criminal defence lawyer KA Ramu advocates for a strategic shift in enforcement, focusing on identifying and prosecuting the elusive masterminds who fund and orchestrate the illegal trade. These individuals, often hidden in the shadows of power and wealth, are the true orchestrators, while those arrested are merely small fish in a vast criminal pond.

As the country grapples with this complex issue, the challenge lies in dismantling the command-and-control structure of these syndicates, making Malaysia a hostile environment not just for drugs but also for the illicit wealth they generate.

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