NCID seeks 1,000 more personnel to target drug syndicates

KUALA LUMPUR - The Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) in Malaysia is seeking an additional 1,000 personnel to bolster efforts against major drug syndicates, according to department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan. The request, which has received Cabinet approval in principle, aims to address the department's current manpower shortages.

Hussein emphasized that the new positions would bolster the Intelligence and Operations Division, which plays a pivotal role in gathering intelligence, identifying syndicate networks, and supporting major enforcement operations. Without this division, the department would focus solely on arresting drug addicts or street-level pushers, he said.

An illustrative example of the division's impact was provided by the dismantling of a major clandestine drug laboratory in Puncak Alam, valued at billions of ringgit, which required months of intelligence gathering. In the first 10 months of this year, the NCID has recorded seizures totaling nearly 70 tonnes of drugs, compared to 89 tonnes throughout last year.

To further disrupt drug supplies and dismantle trafficking networks, the department plans to allocate the additional positions to specialized units focusing on online investigations, international drug trafficking, courier services, and containerised cargo. A dedicated international investigations unit is needed to handle complex cases involving private jets, vessels, and cross-border trafficking networks, according to Hussein.

The department also plans to establish specialized teams to monitor courier services and container movements, which are exploited by drug traffickers. The proposed expansion is intended to strengthen the NCID's capabilities at district, state, and federal levels, enabling it to conduct more operations and dismantle additional syndicates.