KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must strike a balance between operational secrecy and transparency if it hopes to dismantle drug cartels without eroding public trust.

Senior criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy said recent revelations about covert operations against drug syndicates had underscored a fundamental criminological principle.

He added that intelligence-led policing could not succeed without discretion, especially when dealing with highly organised, violent and transnational criminal networks.

However, he said that necessary secrecy must not evolve into blanket opacity.

Sundramoorthy said that a lack of transparency creates room for speculation, distrust and politicisation.

“After operations are concluded, there is no justification for withholding information,” he told the New Straits Times.

In that regard, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibra-him was correct to seek clarity over past missions and to demand accountability.

“When the state claims success, it must be prepared to substantiate it with data.

“The public has a right to know which cartels were dismantled, how many members were arrested, the value of drug seizures and how many cases were prosecuted,” he said.

These disclosures, he said, do not compromise future operations but instead strengthen institutional legitimacy and build public trust in the criminal justice system.

“When political actors dominate or shape the narrative surrounding cartel investigations, it blurs the line between operational necessity and political messaging,” he said.

He said this perception could discourage public cooperation, deter potential informants and complicate partnerships with foreign enforcement agencies.

“Drug cartels exploit maritime routes, airports and regional logistics networks. Malaysia cannot fight these organisations alone,” he said.

This article first appeared on NST.