SHAH ALAM: A comprehensive review of security protocols at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is underway following a sharp surge in drug smuggling cases detected at the nation's primary gateway.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the matter was raised during a joint meeting on Monday (Aug 3) involving airport stakeholders, the Transport Ministry, and enforcement agencies.
“I will not comment on specific security procedures, but based on our meeting, we see an urgent need to enhance security for both passengers and cargo at KLIA.
“The Transport Ministry has proposed revising current standard operating procedures (SOPs). While KLIA's main security priorities have historically focused on weapons and contraband, we have now agreed to elevate narcotics detection to that same top priority tier,” Comm Hussein told a press conference at the Selangor police contingent headquarters on Tuesday (Aug 4).
He added that police are also investigating potential insider involvement, including the possibility of "counter-setting" operations by syndicates using airport staff.
Highlighting recent enforcement figures, Comm Hussein revealed that drug seizures at KLIA soared from RM18.4mil last year to an estimated RM108.3mil between January and July this year. During this seven-month period, police recorded 108 cases resulting in 121 arrests, including 52 foreign nationals, and seized 1.3 tonnes of illicit drugs.
He noted that rising European demand for narcotics has driven syndicates to use KLIA as a regional transit hub, as drug prices in Europe can be nearly triple those in Southeast Asia.
“There are specific reasons syndicates choose KLIA to smuggle drugs into Europe, perhaps because flights departing from KLIA do not face the same level of scrutiny as flights originating from other countries,” Comm Hussein explained.
