Government acknowledges need to strengthen airport security to curb drug smuggling

PASIR PUTEH: The government acknowledges that there are still areas that need to be improved in the country's outbound and inbound security systems, particularly at airports, to curb drug smuggling.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government was taking steps to strengthen security measures involving various agencies following several cases of Malaysians being arrested for drug-related offences after arriving in other countries.

"We acknowledge that there are still a few areas that need to be improved in our outbound and inbound systems, particularly at the country's entry points, including airports, to curb drug smuggling.

"This involves all agencies, including the police, Immigration Department, the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency under the Home Ministry, as well as aviation security, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and others," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after handing over the RM80.1 million Third Region Marine Police Base project in Tok Bali here today.

Saifuddin said the Home Ministry and Transport Ministry had jointly prepared a proposal to strengthen security measures at entry points, particularly airports.

"The plan has 17 measures and will be implemented in three phases: short, medium and long term.

"It involves both outbound and inbound security because we have identified several cases involving Malaysians who left the country and were subsequently arrested in their destination countries," he said.

Saifuddin said such cases needed to be addressed carefully while respecting the laws and sovereignty of the countries where Malaysians were arrested.

"I have been asked whether Malaysia will bring back our citizens caught overseas, like in the case of the pilot who was arrested in Indonesia.

"I told them that if our citizens are arrested there, the country where they arrive is the one that will enforce its laws.

"That country is sovereign and independent, and it has the right to enforce its laws," he said.

Saifuddin said Malaysian authorities could, however, seek access to Malaysians detained overseas to interview them and assist in investigations.

He said close police-to-police relations and Asean cooperation had enabled Malaysian authorities to work with their counterparts in neighbouring countries.

"Through the investigation involving the pilot, for example, we obtained a lot of

information.

"Based on that information, we made further arrests," he said.

He said the cooperation was important to determine whether those arrested had acted alone or were part of an established criminal syndicate.

"We need to establish whether the individual acted alone or whether there is an established criminal syndicate behind the activity.

"We will look into all these aspects," he said.

Saifuddin also credited the police, particularly the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, for acting swiftly and maintaining close cooperation with law enforcement agencies in neighbouring countries.

He was commenting on the latest case involving a 62-year-old Malaysian man who was arrested by Indian Customs authorities at Chennai International Airport after he was allegedly caught smuggling 3.452kg of hydroponic cannabis worth about 1.20 crore rupees (RM520,000) into the country on Aug 31.