GEORGE TOWN — Penang police have dismantled 20 drug syndicates so far this year, as the northern state faces growing risks as a drug transhipment hub, according to acting state police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin.
Mohd Alwi told Scoop that each major drug bust has helped officers identify and arrest key syndicate leaders.
“So far we’ve taken down 20 syndicates — that’s a very encouraging result,” he said.
Mohd Alwi said drug smuggling operations in Penang are often well-coordinated, making intelligence gathering a critical tool in disrupting the networks.
“These groups are very organised. We need more time and stronger intelligence networks to fully break them down,” he said.
He added that police are working closely with law enforcement across Southeast Asia, especially as many of the drugs originate from the Golden Triangle — a notorious trafficking region covering parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
“Bukit Aman is engaged in regional cooperation, and we’ll be sending state officers to participate. We’ll share and receive information from across the border,” he said.
The state police also work with the customs department to carry out joint operations at the airport and port, he added.
How drugs are entering Penang
Penang’s geography — with access by air, land and sea — makes it a natural entry point for drug shipments. But most of the seizures so far have involved land transport.
Its strategic location near Thailand also allows for cross-border smuggling. Mohd Alwi pointed to Satun province in southern Thailand, just 135km from Penang Island, as a common point of origin.
“Penang is not the only state affected. Some drugs are meant for markets in Indonesia or even Australia,” he said, adding that federal police have successfully blocked several international smuggling attempts in recent months.
Despite these vulnerabilities, Penang remains statistically the safest state, according to the online cost of living database Numbeo.
Smuggling trends depend on drug type
Mohd Alwi said drug smuggling trends tend to fluctuate year by year, largely depending on the type of drugs involved.
“Synthetic drugs like methamphetamine are more expensive, while marijuana is relatively cheap,” he explained. “Sometimes we seize large quantities with low street value, and sometimes it’s the opposite.”
He cited official statistics showing that in 2023, police seized 2,545kg of drugs worth RM31.79 million. In 2024 so far, 2,671kg have been seized — but valued at RM19.47 million.
“Even just 2kg of methamphetamine can be worth a lot,” he said.
His comments come after two recent major seizures in Penang. On July 24, police seized 112.1kg of cannabis and cannabis buds worth RM3.72 million.
In late June, Penang customs foiled an attempt to smuggle RM5.1 million worth of marijuana in Sungai Petani, arresting two men.
However, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow warned in January that drug crime continues to pose a major challenge for law enforcement.
No fentanyl detected — yet
Asked whether fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid common in the United States and Mexico, has been detected in Penang, Mohd Alwi said the drug has not surfaced in the state so far.
“But we’re conducting regular inspections to make sure it doesn’t find a foothold here,” he said.
In June, Scoop reported that police had launched a nationwide crackdown on fentanyl after detecting its spread to 157 districts, with hotspots emerging in the Klang Valley and Johor.
Authorities have described the rise in fentanyl-linked cases as “alarming and fast-moving.” — August 3, 2025