Police recorded a twofold increase in drug-related cases at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the first seven months of this year, amid a surge in cannabis flower smuggling.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Hussein Omar Khan said 108 drug-related cases were recorded at KLIA between January and July this year, compared with 54 during the corresponding period in 2025.
Arrests also more than doubled from 57 to 121, including 42 foreign nationals believed to have been involved in drug trafficking activities through KLIA.
"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," Hussein said in a statement posted on the department’s official Facebook today.
Airport security concerns
The figures come amid questions over airport security procedures after a 39-year-old Malaysia Airlines pilot was arrested at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after flying from Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesian authorities reportedly found more than 70,000 ecstasy pills in his luggage after it was screened upon arrival.
The pilot had flown a passenger aircraft from KLIA to Jakarta before his arrest, prompting questions over how the alleged drug consignment had cleared security checks in Malaysia.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has since launched an investigation into whether there were regulatory or security lapses before the pilot departed for Indonesia.
Malaysia Airlines has also said it is cooperating with Indonesian authorities over the case.
RM108m drugs seized
Meanwhile, Hussein said intelligence-led operations and enhanced surveillance at KLIA had foiled attempts to smuggle 1.35 tonnes of drugs into and out of the country this year.
This compared with 235.36kg seized during the same period last year.
The drugs seized this year were estimated to be worth RM108.35 million, compared with RM18.46 million last year.
Police also detected a shift in syndicates’ modus operandi, particularly a growing trend in cannabis flower smuggling.
Cannabis flower seizures surged to 1.25 tonnes this year from just 82.98kg during the corresponding period in 2025.
Ketamine seizures also increased to 16.51kg from 2.15kg.
The surge in cannabis flower trafficking through KLIA has been apparent in several recent operations.
In July alone, Selangor police reported seizing 247.8kg of cannabis flower worth RM19.82 million in six arrests at KLIA between July 11 and 17. Seven people, including six foreign nationals, were detained.
Earlier operations between June 29 and July 4 also resulted in the seizure of 166.2kg of cannabis flower worth RM13.34 million at KLIA Terminal 1 and Kota Warisan.
Hussein said intelligence gathered by the KLIA District Narcotics Crime Investigation Division had also enabled police to dismantle trafficking networks through five separate operations in Sepang, Selangor, and Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
"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 said.
He attributed the success to cooperation between the NCID and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (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," he said.
Hussein stressed that police would not allow syndicates to use KLIA or other national entry points as transit hubs for drug trafficking.
He said cooperation with border enforcement agencies would continue to be strengthened to track down and dismantle drug syndicates and bring those involved to justice. - Mkini
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