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Efforts to smuggle cannabis flowers out of Malaysia are being intercepted almost daily at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), with foreign nationals making up the vast majority of individuals detained
Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) Director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain stated that security screening protocols at both KLIA Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have been significantly intensified, according to the New Straits Times.
The heightened operational stance follows a high-profile narcotics case in July, where a 39-year-old Malaysian airline pilot was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia.
During that incident, Indonesian authorities apprehended the pilot for allegedly attempting to traffic over 70,000 ecstasy pills weighing approximately 25kg, alongside 2.74g of methamphetamine and additional drug residue.
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Image via Jona/PexelsSpeaking to reporters following the closing ceremony of the MCBA Basic Officer Training Course Series 1/2026 at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur, Shuhaily noted that attempts to move illicit cannabis shipments abroad occur nearly every day, or at a minimum, weekly
"Most are not Malaysians but foreigners," Shuhaily clarified, emphasising that MCBA officers are actively coordinating targeted inspections alongside venue operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) across both terminals.
Under 17 government initiatives formulated to strengthen national border security, MCBA has been assigned three key operational responsibilities at international airports: coordinating targeted passenger and baggage screening, managing border intelligence, and overseeing K9 unit operations.
Shuhaily reassured the public that these measures are actively being deployed on the ground to tighten security at all major international checkpoints.
The event was also attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid, and Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad.
The heightened enforcement strategy appears to be yielding substantial financial results
Seizures of contraband and total revenue leakages prevented by the agency have exceeded RM265 million so far this year. This figure represents a nearly threefold increase compared to the RM80 million recorded throughout the entirety of last year.
Electronic waste (e-waste) and narcotics trafficking have been identified as the primary drivers behind the surge in seizure values. The agency attributes these gains to structural enforcement upgrades, updated officer schemes, and a refreshed organisational work culture across its ranks.
