Drug Smuggling In ESSZone Grows More Complex, Requires Continuous Enforcement - ESSCOM

By Noorazlina Jindeh

KOTA KINABALU, April 19 (Bernama) -- Drug smuggling activities in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) are not only still active, but authorities have also found that operations are becoming increasingly complex and organised, posing a persistent security threat that requires continuous enforcement.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) commander Datuk Victor Sanjos said that although there had been no significant spike in reported cases recently, there was a marked shift in the modus operandi of the syndicates involved.

He said the absence of drug seizures over certain periods should not be interpreted as the absence of a threat, but rather indicated that syndicates were using more covert methods, including smaller-scale deliveries or alternative routes to evade detection, contributing to a “dark figure of crime” in such activities.

“In terms of modus operandi, syndicates are believed to be increasingly creative, using unofficial sea routes such as ‘rat trails’, fast boats and pump boats, while operating in layers through the use of ‘runners’ to minimise risk to the masterminds.

“Remote areas in the waters of eastern Sabah have also been identified as temporary transit points, where activities are believed to be conducted at night to avoid detection by authorities,” he told Bernama.

Victor said the geographical landscape of ESSZone, surrounded by numerous islands and open sea routes, coupled with limited assets relative to the vast operational area and constantly evolving tactics using small, fast and hard-to-detect boats, were among the factors making syndicates difficult to track.

“Additionally, economic factors drive individuals to seek lucrative income, while domestic drug demand remains high, with modus operandi including disguising activities as fishing operations or using small boats to avoid detection by authorities,” he said.

As such, Victor said ESSCOM had adopted a strategy centred on smart enforcement based on strategic intelligence and crime trend analysis to enable more targeted action in high-risk areas.

He said the approach involved integrated operations with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), with a specific focus on leakage routes such as unofficial jetties and open border areas.

He added that the ‘hotspot targeting’ method was also used to identify key transit areas frequently linked to cross-border smuggling activities, as well as to assess threat levels through operational data analysis such as number of arrests, value of seizures and intrusion attempts.

Elaborating further, Victor said community intelligence (HUMINT) and cross-border crime linkages were also taken into account to enable dynamic threat assessment and support more targeted and effective operations.

He said intelligence cooperation with neighbouring countries to curb transnational syndicate networks was carried out through continuous information sharing between security agencies such as ESSCOM and RMP with authorities in Indonesia and the Philippines.

“Strengthening security assets, including interceptor boats, radar systems and the use of technology such as drones (UAV), is crucial to monitor hotspots, alongside enhancing legislation with stricter penalties and asset forfeiture to curb syndicate involvement comprehensively, including masterminds operating from abroad,” he said.

On March 18, police seized 53.85 kilogrammes (kg) of drugs worth nearly RM2.6 million in two separate cases at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and Tawau, among the largest drug busts in Sabah.

Sabah Drug Prevention Organisation (PPDJS) adviser Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto also concurred that Sabah’s strategic location, close to the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea and bordering the Philippines and Indonesia, had long made it a preferred route for transnational drug syndicates.

He said areas along the east coast, such as Semporna, Lahad Datu and Sandakan, remained red zones for maritime smuggling, while Tawau and Kalabakan faced compounded risks involving both sea and land routes with Indonesia.

“Large drug seizures do reflect enforcement efficiency, but they cannot be interpreted as absolute success as they indicate that supply flows remain high and the market has not been significantly disrupted,” he said, also proposing the concept of ‘border scouts’ in maritime areas as well as dedicated funding for NGOs involved in security and drug prevention.

“The true measure of success is a reduction in demand, including fewer new addicts and lower relapse rates, rather than relying solely on seizure statistics,” he said, adding that the use of social media should also be re-strategised with a more realistic, situation-based approach rather than mere propaganda campaigns.

He said the public must also shift from being ‘observers’ to ‘security partners’ by channelling information to authorities, supporting the rehabilitation of former addicts, strengthening communities and not shielding suspicious activities.

“If all elements of enforcement, community, policy and regional cooperation are mobilised simultaneously and consistently, Sabah will not only be able to shed its ‘hotspot’ status but could also emerge as a model for drug prevention in Malaysia,” he said.

-- BERNAMA