Polda Kepri and Malaysia agree on 12 steps to fight transnational crime

The Riau Islands Regional Police (Polda Kepri) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have agreed on 12 strategic steps to combat transnational crime along their shared borders. The bilateral security meeting, held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, focused on addressing human trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal narcotics trafficking in the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea.

Polda Kepri highlighted evolving criminal methods, including the use of small vessels, ship-to-ship transfers, encrypted communications, and the utilization of digital wallets and crypto assets to facilitate illicit activities. Data presented showed a rise in narcotics cases in the Riau Islands, growing from 432 in 2024 to 595 in 2025, with 440 cases recorded through August 2026. Recent major seizures in the region include 1.3 tons of ketamine, 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine, and 800 kilograms of ketamine.