Criminal syndicates are using Sabah as a key transit hub due to its strategic location and porous borders, a top narcotics officer has revealed.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Department chief Comm Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said Sabah’s proximity to the Philippines and Indonesia makes it a prime route for smugglers.

“Syndicates are using land, sea, and backdoor routes to move drugs in and out of Sabah,” Khaw said during a visit to the General Operations Force (GOF) base in Kinarut, recently.

Most drugs smuggled into Sabah come from the notorious Golden Triangle region, not Peninsular Malaysia, he added.

The state’s trafficking hotspots include Tawau, Sandakan, Semporna, and nearby islands, which authorities are closely monitoring.

Khaw warned that international demand for syabu (methamphetamine) is pushing smugglers to target Sabah.

“A kilogram of syabu can fetch RM35,000 locally, but up to RM450,000 on the international market,” he said.

Sabah also has one of Malaysia’s highest drug abuse rates, fuelling local demand, Khaw noted.

Authorities are ramping up anti-drug efforts with plans for drone surveillance and large-scale crackdowns involving police, GOF, and marine units.

“Sabah isn’t just a transit point – it’s becoming a marketplace for drug syndicates,” Khaw said.

Drug-related arrests in the state remain high, with 1,200 cases recorded last year. Syabu made up most of the seizures.

Police operations like Ops Tapis last year seized over RM2 million worth of drugs and nabbed 145 suspects in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.

Syndicates are preying on vulnerable rural communities to expand their distribution networks, Khaw said.

To curb this, Sabah police are running awareness programs in high-risk areas, focusing on youth and at-risk groups.

“Protecting Sabah’s communities and national sovereignty remains our priority,” Khaw said. – January 15, 2025.