Tighter border controls curb drug supplies into Kelantan, says police chief

Kota Bharu - Drug trafficking into Kelantan has significantly decreased, according to state police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat. The police chief attributed the decline to tighter border controls and ongoing law enforcement efforts. Despite an increase in drug-related cases, fewer drugs are believed to be entering Kelantan from neighboring countries.

Yusoff's remarks come after the implementation of a new strategic approach to combat drug issues in the state since July 15. He highlighted that daily enforcement operations have led to increasingly limited drug supplies. The police chief emphasized that neighboring countries are no longer supplying drugs to Kelantan as freely as before.

Yusoff pointed to the introduction of stricter border controls in 2024 as a factor contributing to the reduction in drug trafficking. He stressed that the police will continue to strengthen enforcement and collaborate with other agencies to tackle the drug problem more comprehensively. In addition to border controls, Yusoff mentioned that discussions have been held with relevant authorities to address drug abuse among students.

The Selangor Education Department has reportedly conducted urine tests on students in collaboration with the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada). However, it remains unclear whether this initiative can be extended nationwide, as confirmation from the Education Ministry has yet to be received. According to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, four states - Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu - have drug involvement rates above the national threshold.

Pendang in Kedah and Kuala Krai in Kelantan are identified as the country's two highest-ranking districts in terms of drug cases. The statistics were calculated based on the number of individuals involved in drug cases per 100,000 population, using an international standard set by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).