Sarawak drug seizures soar nearly sevenfold to RM33 mln, MDMA powder biggest spike

Saifullizan speaks to the media during the PDRM Sarawak Contingent Townhall Discussion 2026 at Serian Convention Centre on May 9, 2026.

BY Emily Ruran

SERIAN, May 9: Drug seizures in Sarawak surged nearly sevenfold to RM33,010,733.50 as of May 3 this year, compared to RM4,140,005.11 recorded during the same period last year.

Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Saifullizan Ishak said the figure represented a 697.36 per cent increase, driven by higher seizures across several drug categories.

He said enforcement efforts have been intensified in response to evolving drug trafficking tactics, including the deployment of additional K9 units at entry points.

“As they update their modus operandi, we also update our methods to prevent drugs from entering through our borders,” he said after officiating the PDRM Sarawak Contingent Townhall Discussion 2026 at Serian Convention Centre today.

Serian recorded 171 drug arrests during the same period, an increase of 35 cases or 25.74 per cent, placing the district among the top 10 in Sarawak for drug-related arrests.

Saifullizan said the district remains one of the key routes for cross-border drug smuggling, with enforcement strengthened through measures such as the establishment of the Narcotics Nucleus Secretariat Office (SNN) in Tebedu.
“We are taking this seriously by strengthening our enforcement hubs to prevent drugs from entering the state,” he said.

Statistics shared showed that MDMA powder recorded the sharpest increase, surging 2,577.71 per cent to RM24.92 million from RM930,803.81 previously. This was followed by syabu worth RM5.35 million and ketamine valued at RM887,552.

A new synthetic drug, MDMB-4EN-Pinaca, was also detected, with seizures amounting to RM1.02 million.

Meanwhile, seizures involving cannabis, ecstasy pills and Erimin 5 recorded declines. — DayakDaily