By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 25: DayakDaily hosted an interactive dialogue titled “Sarawak’s Illicit Trade: Drivers, Risks & the Cost of Prohibition” today, bringing together enforcement agencies, criminology and healthcare experts, industry players, and the media to examine one of the State’s most pressing and complex issues.
Illicit trade in Sarawak remains a notable concern, especially in the case of illegal cigarettes and vapes. According to the latest January 2026 Illicit Cigarette Study by NielsenIQ, illicit cigarettes account for approximately 80.1 per cent of total consumption in the State, an increase from the 2025 rate of 78.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the proliferation of illegal vape products in the State continue to be a concern, with regular reports of crackdowns on major operations.
This is further exacerbated by the emergence of illicit and potentially drug-laced vape products, intensifying calls for stricter regulatory measures, including the consideration of an outright ban.
While well-intentioned, global evidence shows that prohibitory policies may produce unintended consequences, with several studies showing that blanket bans can drive demand underground, fuel black market activities and increasing the circulation of unregulated, unsafe products that are often more accessible to all age groups, including minors.
The session today provided a balanced, evidence-based platform for meaningful exchange between enforcement authorities, criminology and healthcare experts, industry players, and the media, with discussions centred on the need to safeguard public health interests while preventing unintended consequences arising from prohibition.
Deputy Director of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Sarawak) Abg Zamari Abg Nazarin shared on the illicit cigarettes and E-Cigarettes ecosystem in Sarawak, from a legal and enforcement perspective. Universiti Sains Malaysia Criminologist at the Centre for Policy Research Dato’ Dr P. Sundramoorthy, UKM Medical Centre Public Health Specialist Professor Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, and Philip Morris Malaysia Scientific Engagement Manager Dr Vijayndhran Balakrishnan highlighted the need for scientific and sociological-based approaches in developing harm reduction policies that ensure vulnerable groups are protected.
Key conversations explored the underlying drivers of illicit trade, enforcement challenges, public health implications and the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks. The dialogue’s aim was to surface pragmatic, data-driven approaches that safeguard public health while minimising unintended socio-economic repercussions.
Ultimately, the dialogue reinforced the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response, one that carefully balances public health priorities, enforcement realities and broader societal impact in shaping policies that serve the long-term interests of Sarawak and its people. — DayakDaily
