Kelantan records RM33.47mil in commercial crime losses as of August

In the month of August, Kelantan's commercial crime losses amounted to RM33.47 million, marking an increase of RM5.97 million compared to RM27.50 million in the same period last year. Police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat reported a rise in the number of commercial crime cases from 1,100 to 1,921, a jump of 821 cases. Notably, e-commerce scams surged from 260 to 657 cases, while cybercrimes in general increased from 287 to 444 cases.

Yusoff emphasized that as crime adapts to technological advancements, law enforcement must respond swiftly, particularly in prevention and public awareness. He stated this at a monthly assembly held at the Kelantan police headquarters.

Despite the rise in commercial crime, the overall crime index for Kelantan fell by three percent to 1,213 cases from January to August, down from 1,251 cases during the same period in 2025. Yusoff noted a decline of 11 percent in violent crime, with 310 cases reported this year compared to 310 cases in 2025. Property crime also decreased, with 941 cases in the current year versus 937 cases last year.

On the drug front, narcotics cases dropped by 13 percent from 18,427 to 16,044, with 19,469 arrests made this year compared to 19,469 in 2025. However, the value of drugs seized decreased by 31.49 percent, from RM25.47 million to RM17.45 million due to focused efforts in combating the narcotics threat.

For prevention, Yusoff explained that the state police maintained various strategies, including patrols, Amanita, community policing programs, and collaborations with relevant agencies. He urged stronger community involvement, specifically highlighting the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP), where 150,019 people registered as members by August 31. Yusoff highlighted the need to engage young people with the digital age, screen influence, social media, and face-to-face interactions to build trust and maintain public safety.