SERIAN: Drug seizures in Sarawak rose nearly sevenfold to RM33,010,733.50 as of May 3 this year, compared with RM4,140,005.11 recorded during the same period last year.
Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner DCP Saifullizan Ishak said the increase stood at 697.36 per cent.
He said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will continue strengthening its enforcement efforts in response to evolving threats.
“We will continue to increase our manpower. For example, we have recently added drug-sniffing dogs to the K9 unit at the airport.
“As they update their modus operandi, we also update our methods to prevent drugs from entering through our borders,” he said.
He said this after officiating the PDRM Sarawak Contingent Townhall Discussion 2026 at the Serian Conference Centre here today.
Serian recorded 171 drug arrests during the same period this year, an increase of 35 cases or 25.74 per cent, placing it among the top 10 districts in Sarawak.
Noting that Serian is among the routes used for international drug smuggling, Saifullizan said police are paying close attention to efforts to curb drug entry through the border.
“Many may not know that we have established the Narcotics Nucleus Secretariat Office (SNN) in Tebedu.
“It was recently set up specifically to address drug smuggling and related activities.
“We are taking this seriously by strengthening our enforcement hubs to prevent drugs from entering the state,” he said.
Based on statistics shared, seizures of MDMA powder recorded the sharpest increase, surging 2,577.71 per cent to RM24,924,264 from RM930,803.81 previously.
Seizures of syabu also rose significantly to RM5,351,701.30 from RM803,783.20, while ketamine increased to RM887,552 from RM148,312.
A new synthetic drug, MDMB-4EN-Pinaca, was recorded at RM1,021,050 with no prior cases.
However, several drugs saw a decline, including cannabis, which dropped to RM732,646.20 from RM1,887,176.10, and ecstasy pills, which fell to RM38,300 from RM292,550.
Erimin 5 pills also declined to RM55,220 from RM77,380 during the same period last year.
He said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will continue strengthening its enforcement efforts in response to evolving threats.
“We will continue to increase our manpower. For example, we have recently added drug-sniffing dogs to the K9 unit at the airport.
“As they update their modus operandi, we also update our methods to prevent drugs from entering through our borders,” he said.
He said this after officiating the PDRM Sarawak Contingent Townhall Discussion 2026 at the Serian Conference Centre here today.
Serian recorded 171 drug arrests during the same period this year, an increase of 35 cases or 25.74 per cent, placing it among the top 10 districts in Sarawak.
Noting that Serian is among the routes used for international drug smuggling, Saifullizan said police are paying close attention to efforts to curb drug entry through the border.
“Many may not know that we have established the Narcotics Nucleus Secretariat Office (SNN) in Tebedu.
“It was recently set up specifically to address drug smuggling and related activities.
“We are taking this seriously by strengthening our enforcement hubs to prevent drugs from entering the state,” he said.
Based on statistics shared, seizures of MDMA powder recorded the sharpest increase, surging 2,577.71 per cent to RM24,924,264 from RM930,803.81 previously.
Seizures of syabu also rose significantly to RM5,351,701.30 from RM803,783.20, while ketamine increased to RM887,552 from RM148,312.
A new synthetic drug, MDMB-4EN-Pinaca, was recorded at RM1,021,050 with no prior cases.
However, several drugs saw a decline, including cannabis, which dropped to RM732,646.20 from RM1,887,176.10, and ecstasy pills, which fell to RM38,300 from RM292,550.
Erimin 5 pills also declined to RM55,220 from RM77,380 during the same period last year.