Malaysia’s maritime operation nets 344 arrests and RM106.7 million in seizures from 2020-2025, with Sabah as the top hotspot for offences.
KLANG: Special Operation Pagar Laut recorded 344 arrests and RM106.7 million in seizures between 2020 and 2025, with Sabah emerging as the top hotspot, the Home Ministry said.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the six-year data continues to guide maritime enforcement planning, particularly during high-risk festive periods.
“For the period 2020 to 2025, there were 344 arrest cases involving various offences. The value of seizures reached RM106.7 million.
“The states recording the highest number of arrests were Sabah with 90 cases, Perak with 71 cases and Johor with 52 cases,” he told reporters during the Ops Pagar Laut inspection aboard KM Tun Fatimah here today.
Authorities also thwarted 863 illegal entry attempts involving 3,700 individuals over the same period.
The annual operation, now in its 10th year, will run from Feb 27 to April 10, involving 800 Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency personnel backed by 275 maritime and air assets conducting 24-hour patrols.
Saifuddin said enforcement patterns show a recurring spike in cross-border risks during Ramadan and Syawal.
“Based on long-term data we have collected, we found that the risk of cross-border crime increases during the months of Ramadan and Syawal.
“Certain parties may assume that during the festive season our enforcement machinery is inactive or operating at reduced capacity. That assumption is wrong,” he said.
Despite persistent smuggling threats, the minister said kidnap-for-ransom cases, once a major concern in Sabah waters, have recorded zero incidents since January 2020.
“Kidnap-for-ransom cases have recorded zero incidents since January 2020.
“However, the incidents we do encounter mostly involve smuggling. There is also smuggling of weapons and drugs,” he said.
He said Malaysia’s proximity to neighbouring countries, particularly along the Strait of Malacca, continues to make sea routes attractive to smuggling syndicates.
Saifuddin said syndicates continue to deploy varied tactics at sea, requiring enforcement agencies to remain more agile in response.
