Kelantan records highest drug abuse rate in 2025 as border states remain most affected, says AADK

KUALA NERUS, June 13 — Four states located near or along the country’s borders continued to record the highest rates of drug abuse in Malaysia in 2025.

The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) Prevention Division director Siti Mariam Mursidan said Kelantan recorded the highest rate, with 1,105 drug addicts and abusers per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (997), Perlis (970) and Kedah (965).

She said the geographical location of these states has facilitated the entry of illicit drug supplies into the local market, making it easier for addicts to obtain the prohibited substances.

“Overall, a total of 191,832 arrests involving drug addicts and individuals involved in prohibited substances were recorded throughout last year.

“Apart from these four states, other states that also recorded relatively high rates were Pahang with 795 cases per 100,000 population, Penang (757), Melaka (659) and Perak (579). However, the situation in all states remains under control,” she said after the Kuala Nerus Car Free Hour (KNCFH) programme and the state-level Drug-Free Aspirations Tour (JABD) 2026 here today.

Also present were Terengganu deputy police chief SAC Suffian Sulaiman and state AADK director Arzmi Abdullah.

At the event, Siti Mariam also announced the selection of two villages — Kampung Gong Rawai in Kuala Terengganu and Kampung Rawai in Marang — as pilot locations for the drug-free aspirational village programme.

She said the locations were chosen based on the commitment shown by local leaders and communities in supporting AADK’s preventive programmes and related activities.

“The selection of these villages does not mean that they have a high number of drug addicts. Rather, it is based on the cooperation and readiness of the communities and local leaders to support efforts to combat the drug menace.

“Terengganu is quite special because two villages have been selected as pilot projects. In other states, only one adopted village has been chosen for the same programme,” she said. — Bernama