Lok Sabha: 9,602 drug cases in Sarawak as of August 31

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 Oct: A total of 9,602 drug cases with 9,924 arrests were recorded in Sarawak for the period 1 January to 31 August this year.

Deputy Interior Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the number saw an increase from 7,488 cases with 7,790 arrests for the same period last year.

"The total value of drugs seized by Sarawak police for the period January to August this year is RM50.1 million compared with RM58.78 million for the same period for 2025", he said in the Dewan Rakyat.

He answered Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin)'s question asking the government to state statistics of drug cases and arrests in Sarawak for this year.

According to Shamsul Anuar, a total of 9,992 cases with 10,378 arrests were recorded in Sarawak in 2024 before increasing to 12,716 cases with 13,187 arrests in 2025.

Meanwhile, he said the threat of synthetic drug abuse and distribution in Sarawak is increasingly complex and dynamic as patterns of abuse change and new psychoactive substances emerge.

At the same time, he said the geographical extent of Sarawak as well as land, sea and air connectivity networks also make drug entry control a challenge that requires ongoing enforcement and risk action.

He said the spread of synthetic drugs was also influenced by several factors, including lower processing costs, ease of obtaining chemicals and the ability of syndicates to use online platforms.

"Thus, the police will strengthen enforcement approaches through scrutiny, data sharing, digital space monitoring, integrated agency-to-agency operations as well as enhanced control at the country gate and joint operations with related agencies", he said. - TVS