Malaysians arrested on drug charges in 40 countries, says deputy minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Forty countries have recorded the arrest of Malaysian citizens in drug-related cases, with intensified enforcement in those countries among the factors driving greater attention to such offences, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni.

He said Malaysia is working to clarify the situation with those countries, given its perceived high numbers in drug cases, which in turn have prompted tighter enforcement abroad.

He also noted that cross-border drug smuggling methods are becoming more sophisticated, making the activity harder to curb and requiring close cooperation between enforcement agencies and countries.

“The techniques for smuggling drugs into those countries are growing more sophisticated and diverse,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Doris Sophia asked about the government’s initiatives and diplomatic cooperation through Asean and strategic partner countries to curb cross-border criminal syndicates, such as fake job offers and paid luggage-carrying schemes containing drugs.

In that regard, Lukanisman said Malaysia will leverage the Asean platform to strengthen discussions on cross-border drug crime, including through future multilateral conferences.

He said efforts to curb drug mule activities involve not only the Foreign Ministry through Wisma Putra but also various government agencies, particularly enforcement ones.

He noted that Wisma Putra’s role covers consular assistance after Malaysians are detained abroad, including helping them follow the prescribed procedures and informing their families.

Meanwhile, Lukanisman said Malaysia is refining cooperation with Thailand and Indonesia on transferring offenders to resolve legal issues involving prisoners through diplomatic channels.

He said the discussions are being carried out through diplomatic relations, including engagement with the ambassadors of the countries concerned.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) on which countries Malaysia is negotiating with for an international prisoner transfer agreement, following the signing of the International Transfer of Prisoners Treaty (ITOP) with Pakistan on August 21.

Halimah also raised the possibility of prisoners convicted abroad serving the remainder of their sentences in Malaysia under the International Transfer of Prisoners Act 2012. — Bernama