August 7, 2026
PETALING JAYA – According to the Global Organised Crime Index, Malaysia functions as a key transit hub for heroin trafficking, with organised crime syndicates controlling distribution networks.
Although not a producer, its proximity to the Golden Triangle has facilitated smuggling through border regions, with heroin seizures rising slightly in recent years and international cases linking shipments from Malaysia to Australia and Singapore.
“Heroin is also among the most commonly used drugs domestically. While the full scale of the market remains unclear, Malaysia continues to play a significant role in regional heroin trafficking.
“The cocaine trade is less established than that of heroin, largely due to Malaysia’s distance from major cocaine-producing regions,” the report said.
Cannabis trafficking is driven by organised networks, with supplies smuggled from neighbouring countries and sold locally, particularly among the youth.
“The market is widespread and partly influenced by cannabis legalisation in Thailand. While significant, the cannabis market in Malaysia is smaller than that for synthetic drugs.
“However, the full size and value of the market remains unclear due to limited data,” the report added.
The report said the synthetic drug trade was dominated by sophisticated transnational syndicates, with methamphetamine being the primary drug trafficked, mostly from Myanmar.
“Malaysia functions as both a source and transit country, with trafficking routes extending to Australia, Japan and the Philippines.
“Although local production of methamphetamine and ketamine has declined, domestic demand remains high.”