More than 90% of Malaysians who tested positive for drugs after returning from Thailand through the Bukit Kayu Hitam border crossing in Kedah were aged between 19 and 40, according to the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).
AADK director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said data from the first quarter of 2026 showed that 164 of the 169 positive cases involved individuals within the 19 to 40 age group. The remaining five cases comprised one person below the age of 18 and four individuals aged between 41 and 50.
Between January and June, the Border Anti-Drugs Unit conducted 438 urine screenings on Malaysians returning through Bukit Kayu Hitam, with 235 people, or 54%, testing positive for drugs. Of those, 208 were men and 27 were women.
Ruslin said ketamine was the most commonly detected drug, accounting for 114 of the positive cases, followed by methamphetamine, commonly known as syabu, and MDMA or ecstasy.
He said ketamine, which is intended for use as an anaesthetic in medical treatment, has been widely abused as a recreational drug.
According to Ruslin, the number of drug-positive travellers typically rises during festive periods and long weekends, with many Malaysians travelling to Thailand for tourism, shopping and entertainment. Bukit Kayu Hitam remains the country’s main entry point for such cases, followed by Rantau Panjang.
He added that AADK is also facing growing challenges from new psychoactive substances (NPS), which are harder to detect through conventional urine tests. The agency has acquired modern testing equipment, including specialised test strips capable of detecting drugs such as fentanyl, while strengthening cooperation with border security agencies.
