Malaysian police disrupted several high-value criminal syndicates in May, seizing drugs, wildlife parts, and smuggled goods worth millions of ringgit.
Between May 6 and 10, authorities arrested six foreign nationals at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), seizing 172.8kg of marijuana buds valued at RM13.85 million. The suspects operated using social visit passes and were paid between 3,000 and 5,000 euros to smuggle drugs to Europe, according to police statements. Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar warned, "Do not be easily deceived by promises of high payment, as such actions can lead to serious legal consequences" [1, 2, 3].
A 22-year-old local man was arrested on May 11 in Ampang Jaya with 79kg of methamphetamine (syabu) worth RM3.95 million [1, 2, 3]. On May 10, police also arrested a civil servant in Hulu Terengganu after discovering firearms, kerambit blades, handcuffs, and suspected drugs in his vehicle during a patrol [4].
In wildlife crime enforcement, a man was arrested in Kota Kinabalu on May 13, with protected wildlife parts valued at over RM5.3 million, including tusks, tiger teeth, bear teeth, bezoar stones, and swiftlet nests. Sabah Wildlife Department confirmed the illegal items were sourced from villagers in Tawau and sold locally without permits [5, 6]. On May 15, a former forest ranger was arrested in Tuaran with a hoard of wildlife items comprising three rhino horns, 330 pangolin scales, elephant bones, and deer antlers worth RM589,230 [7].
Sarawak Marine Police seized frozen meat and diesel valued at around RM2.95 million without valid permits during raids in Bintulu and Julau on May 15 [8]. Police in Kajang intercepted 167 tonnes of frozen food worth RM12.4 million on May 18 and arrested five suspects suspected of smuggling and halal certification fraud. KDNKA director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said, "The syndicate was believed to have used the business to distribute imported frozen products that were not properly certified, while also allegedly mixing halal and non-halal items" [8, 9].
Kelantan police reported that smuggling syndicates shifted to waterways and coastal routes following border clampdowns. From January to April 2026, 375 contraband cases led to RM10.18 million in seizures. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat stated, "There would be no compromise for any officers and police personnel found to be involved in corruption, leaking information or any misconduct that could affect the integrity, credibility and public trust in the force" [10].
In a separate incident, police in Miri arrested a local man within 24 hours after an armed robbery and vehicle theft on May 17, recovering the stolen Toyota Fortuner [11].
Authorities continue investigations into these syndicates to prevent further criminal activities across peninsular and East Malaysia.
Timeline
On May 6, three foreign suspects were arrested at KLIA with 72.6kg of marijuana worth RM5.8 million seized. On May 9, two more foreign suspects were arrested at KLIA with 72.8kg of marijuana valued at RM5.85 million. The following day, May 10, one man was arrested at KLIA with 27.4kg of marijuana worth RM2.2 million, and a civil servant was arrested in Terengganu with firearms and drugs [1, 2, 4].
On May 11, a local man was arrested in Ampang Jaya with methamphetamine worth RM3.95 million [1, 2, 3]. May 13 saw the Kota Kinabalu raid where wildlife parts worth RM5.3 million were seized [5, 6]. On May 15, Sabah police arrested a former forest ranger with wildlife hoard in Tuaran and Sarawak Marine Police seized frozen meat and diesel in Bintulu and Julau [7, 8].
On May 17 and 18, Kajang police seized 167 tonnes of frozen food worth RM12.4 million and arrested five suspects. Miri police arrested a robbery suspect and recovered a stolen vehicle within 24 hours [9, 11].
