ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the manner in which rampant transnational criminal activities around the northern approaches to the Straits of Malacca have posed a significant threat to the security of the Straits. The Straits of Malacca is a critical SLOC linking the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Mainly due to its geopolitical landscape, the entire region is predominantly characterised by transnational criminal activities, notably narcotics-trafficking, gun running and human smuggling. The northern approaches to the Straits of Malacca are fringed by the Indian Andaman and Nicobar chains of islands and the Andaman Sea. Amongst the contributory factors are: the region's proximity to the drug producing "Golden Triangle"; ex-war surplus arms stockpiles in Cambodia; the lack of effective national governance and inter-state security cooperation. Poor or non-existent inter-state cooperation could be attributed to a number of factors such as superpower geo-politicking and inter-state border geopolitics.
