KUALA LUMPUR: Methamphetamine, commonly known as syabu or ice among locals, remains the most sought-after drug in East and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, where it is recorded as the most smuggled substance.
In Malaysia, syabu is in high demand, particularly in the black market, as it is a banned substance here.
Beyond local demand, drug distribution syndicates also use Malaysia as a transit country for smuggling syabu before it is sent to neighbouring nations.
The Customs Department declared syabu the most seized drug of 2023.
Those addicted to syabu experience immediate effects such as hallucinations, insomnia, and suppressed appetite despite extreme fatigue. However, prolonged use severely impairs social functioning.
Customs Department director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin reported that 442 cases involving 9,954.73kg of various drugs, valued at RM372.14 million, were seized last year. Of this, 670.15kg of methamphetamine, valued at RM23,882,719.55, were confiscated.
This year, up until May, 166 cases have been reported involving drugs worth RM57.86 million. By July 31, a total of 1,850.70kg worth RM62.3 million had been seized by the department.
Anis noted that from 2023 to July 2024, 176 cases were recorded involving 7,585.98kg of syabu, valued at RM118,828,228.23.
"Among the most common methods smugglers use are making fake declarations of goods using false export details. They employ cold storage containers and even courier services to smuggle and distribute these drugs, using fake, incorrect, or non-existent names and delivery addresses to avoid detection.
"Unfortunately for them, no matter the methods these syndicates choose, we still manage to sniff them out," she told Harian Metro in a special interview.
Anis added that the department is committed to combating smuggling through various action plans and continues to strengthen administration and enforcement within the Customs Department.
"One of our initiatives is to embed the 'Cepat, Tangkas, and Integriti' motto in all our officers to enhance efficiency, integrity, transparency, and accountability within the department," she said.
She also mentioned that the department maintains constant contact with other enforcement agencies, including the police, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol, and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), to ensure that our borders remain secure from smuggling activities.
Anis highlighted that after the Australian drug consignment case in October last year, involving 622kg from Malaysia, the department received instructions to screen and scan every container passing through Port Klang.
"This became possible after we replaced outdated scanning machines with 66 newer models equipped with Artificial Intelligence features, designed to screen both cargo and people," she added.
She noted that the new AI-equipped machines take only 20 to 30 seconds to complete a scan, with a 100 per cent accuracy rate.
"Since the beginning of this year, we have installed seven units at Kuala Lumpur International Airport—five at KLIA and two at KLIA 2," she said.