ALOR SETAR: With 80% of drugs entering Malaysia via sea routes, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has stepped up patrols and strengthened its fleet with new vessels and aircraft to curb cross-border smuggling.
MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said that the agency remains on high alert and will continue to enhance maritime surveillance and enforcement to prevent drug syndicates from exploiting national waters.
"MMEA will not compromise on any attempt to smuggle drugs into the country via sea. Every inch of our maritime borders is our responsibility," he said in a statement on Saturday (July 26).
He acknowledged that Malaysia's waters remain a prime target for international drug syndicates, which use sea routes as their "safe passage" into the country.
He made the statement following Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's disclosure on Friday (July 25) that the majority of drug supplies entering Malaysia come through maritime routes.
From 2020 to June 2025, MMEA recorded 117 drug-related seizures nationwide, valued at nearly RM200mil.
"These are not small figures and every seizure saves thousands of lives from drug addiction. We will continue to intensify operations and intelligence work with other enforcement agencies to address this issue," he said.
To boost enforcement capabilities, MMEA has deployed the KM Tun Fatimah patrol vessel in the South China Sea and stationed new-generation patrol boats at hotspot areas.
The agency is also expecting the Ex-USCG Cutter Steadfast patrol ship in November, an AW189 helicopter in 2026, and a Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) from Turkiye in 2027.
"These assets will strengthen not just our physical capabilities but also our monitoring and operational readiness at sea," Mohd Rosli said, thanking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for approving the acquisitions through the Home Ministry.
Saifuddin had earlier said that MMEA is responsible for securing 680,000 square kilometres of Malaysian waters. – Bernama
