KUALA LUMPUR: Less than two months into the top job, Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan has identified worrying drug trends that need his immediate attention.
Hussein, who took office on July 21, said the scale and sophistication of drug syndicates were cause for concern.
“Based on current enforcement patterns, case reports and intelligence disclosures, several drug trends in Malaysia are worrying law enforcement, both in terms of scale and sophistication,” he told the New Straits Times.
Hussein said issues identified included sophisticated concealment and adulteration tactics, prevalence of synthetic and designer drugs, domestic “ghost labs” and repackaging hubs, and edibles and vape-based products laced with drugs.
“We are focusing on cross-border smuggling networks, as well as the evolving tactics of drug syndicates using digital marketing and sales channels and encrypted messaging to avoid detection.
“As the sale and distribution of narcotics evolves, we must do so as well or we will end up playing catch-up with these syndicates.”
He said domestic inter-agency and international cooperation was key in the war on drugs.
“We have to work together as these syndicates know no borders and work under the assumption that the agencies of each country work separately.
“If we can pool our resources and intelligence, we can fight these syndicates more effectively.”
He said the NCID would upskill personnel with the latest intelligence gathering and investigation techniques.
“This will ensure we stay ahead of the syndicates and that our cases are solved and prosecuted effectively.
“We are also looking at training our personnel together with neighbouring counterparts.
“This will ensure enforcement agencies in the region have the latest information on tactics used by drug syndicates.”
Hussein said the NCID would use the latest technology, including artificial intelligence-powered drones, closed-circuit television cameras, scanners and other tools for profiling.
He said this effort would involve the armed forces, Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency, Customs Department and Immigration Department, among others.
Last year, the NCID arrested 259,004 suspects for drug-related offences. Of the arrests, 753 suspects were linked to 245 drug syndicates, which were also crippled.
The NCID seized 68.17 tonnes of drugs last year, worth RM388.06 million.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
