Drug smugglers are believed to be shifting their operations to other Malaysian airports, including Penang and Kota Bharu, after detecting more advanced drug-screening technology at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the change in tactics had prompted the government to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered CCTV analytics to detect drug smuggling at the country’s entry points.
“Now that they know KLIA has more advanced detection technology, they are moving to other airports, particularly those with international flights.
“Kota Bharu now has international flights, and so does Penang. Therefore, we need to provide more advanced technology and analytical facilities,” he said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu), who asked whether the government planned to introduce alternative methods to counter increasingly sophisticated drug-smuggling tactics at airports.
Ku Abd Rahman had pointed out that existing airport scanners were primarily designed to detect explosives, weapons and dangerous metal objects rather than drugs.
Responding to the concern, Anwar acknowledged that conventional screening equipment relied on older technology, while smugglers were increasingly adopting methods that could make drugs difficult to detect through routine inspections.
He said the government had acquired new analytical technology to improve drug detection capabilities, alongside the use of K9 sniffer dog units during security operations.
However, the latest detection facilities are currently available only at KLIA, despite smugglers potentially targeting other airports with international flight services.
Anwar stressed that the government was taking drug and contraband smuggling seriously, warning that weaknesses at any border entry point could threaten national security.
He added that smuggling activities were not limited to airports but also took place along the country’s land and maritime borders, requiring tighter enforcement across all entry points.
To address the threat, the government has strengthened cooperation between the Home Ministry, Transport Ministry and relevant enforcement agencies through several security initiatives.
Apart from existing equipment and AI-powered CCTV analytics, measures include inspections by K9 units from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) in baggage segregation areas.
Anwar said the government was also focusing on modernising security assets and infrastructure, while improving real-time information sharing among enforcement agencies to strengthen border controls.
