MalayMail-Nov 11
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is urgently seeking an additional 15,707 officers to strengthen its Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) amid a growing and increasingly sophisticated drug crisis in the country.
According to JSJN director Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin, the department’s current manpower and resources are simply not enough to tackle the scale of the problem as drug trafficking networks are becoming more advanced. “Currently, the strength of JSJN is insufficient to fully eradicate drugs. We (JSJN) need a significant increase in our manpower as well as support in terms of technology, expertise, and cooperation between agencies,” Khaw told Utusan Malaysia in an interview published today. He said the JSJN has already submitted a proposal to the Public Service Department (JPA) for an additional 1,000 positions, but with the government’s current financial constraints, Khaw is unsure whether its request will be fully granted. Nonetheless, Khaw remains hopeful that the government will recognize the urgency and allocate more resources to the cause. Khaw said the department’s need for more staff is not just a matter of numbers — it’s about keeping up with the increasingly complex tactics used by international drug syndicates. These syndicates are using advanced technologies, like encrypted communications and the dark web, to evade detection. Furthermore, new synthetic drugs that are not yet listed in regulatory schedules are making it even harder for authorities to keep up.
Malaysia’s geographical location, with its long borders and strategic position, makes it especially vulnerable to drug trafficking. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/11/does-it-seem-like-malaysia-is-taking-very-small-steps-forward-in-the-war-on-drugs-bukit-amans-narcotic-chief-explains-whats-going-on/156447
