KLANG: The detection of South American drug cartel "narco submarines" using new routes to smuggle drugs to Australia highlights the importance of cooperation between Australian and Malaysian authorities.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) acting deputy director general (operations) Rear Admiral Mohd Zawawi Abdullah said drugs and human trafficking were among cross-border crimes that must be focussed on to ensure Malaysia does not become a hub for such activities.
"Since 2013 we have engaged through Op Redback with the Australian Border Force to build capacity and cooperation to curb maritime security threats in the region.
"The key objective of our relationship is to maintain and strengthen our capabilities to combat threats such as human trafficking as well as drug smuggling, and other security threats at sea" he told reporters after closing Op Redback here today.
He said in November, news reports revealed that drug smugglers were exploring new routes to Australia using narco submarines.
"This implies that these smugglers were also capable of reaching other destinations within this region," he said.
Mohd Zawawi said cases where Malaysia had been detected to be a transit hub for migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan to other countries also affected its rank in the United States state department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
"The cooperation between the ABF and MMEA involves intelligence and information sharing, community outreach programmes, and highly visible patrol programmes.
"Australia's contribution to Op Redback generally involves supporting the operation through training, strategic initiatives as well as funding for activities and programmes conducted," he said adding that the Australian government had previously handed over two used patrol boats to the MMEA several years ago to help in its patrols.
Meanwhile, Australian High Commission ABF Counsellor Superintendent Brooke Leung said they would continue to work with their counterparts including the MMEA to curb transborder crimes.
On Nov 27, The Guardian reported that Colombian authorities working with dozens of other countries have seized 225 tonnes of cocaine in six weeks, a global record for any single anti-narcotics operation, finding some of that haul on a "narco submarine" travelling on a new drug trafficking route to Australia.
In the six-week Operation Orion, law enforcement agencies and other organisations from 62 countries halted six semi-submersible vessels stuffed with cocaine and confiscated 1,400 tonnes of drugs in total, including more than 1,000 tonnes of marijuana.