KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities must focus on enhancing border control, law enforcement efforts as well as education to ensure Malaysia does not continue to be made a transit hub for drug trafficking syndicates.
Crime watchdog Dave Avran said, based on his observations, Malaysia served as a transit for illegal drug trafficking to countries including Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Indonesia.
"Multinational crime networks are among the participants of this illegal trade and traffickers were forced to switch to shipping drugs from Myanmar and Thailand across the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca due to Covid-19 border and transportation restrictions.
"Even though drug trafficking carries the death penalty here, our country is nevertheless seen as a 'softer' alternative for transit compared to other nations," he said when contacted.
Avran, who is the founder of Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Theft (Marah), proposed that drugs could be kept out of the country with the use of border control methods including physical barriers, drones as well as artificial intelligence.
"Increased personnel patrolling our porous borders could also act as a deterrent.
"This covers both maritime ports of entry and land boundaries. Drug trafficking prevention necessitates an all-encompassing strategy," he said, adding that stricter law enforcement measures could also be of benefit.
He said to stop drug trafficking activities and capture those involved, law enforcement efforts must be strong, robust and tough.
"This covers operations to detect and dismantle drug trafficking networks as well as interdiction of suspicious shipments at ports of entry," he said.
Avran added that drug trafficking was a global problem that required international cooperation.
"Countries must cooperate and work together to share information, coordinate efforts and target drug trafficking organisations.
"Economic development programmes will also help to reduce the root causes of drug trafficking by providing job opportunities and economic stability.
"This will help to reduce poverty and unemployment, which contribute to drug trafficking activities," he said, adding that treatment and support programmes can help those struggling with drug addiction to recover and rebuild their lives as many graduate to trafficking and smuggling drugs to feed their habit.
He said this must also include access to counseling, detoxification services, and other support.
Avran said education and awareness programmes can also help to prevent drug trafficking by providing information about the dangers of drug use and the consequences of drug trafficking.
"These are long term programmes to target young people, parents, and community leaders to help disseminate information," he said.