Malaysia

Drug laws are very strict in Malaysia; penalties for using, having, or selling illegal drugs include the death penalty, long jail sentences, or heavy fines.

Death penalty, long jail sentences, or heavy fines.

Verified Jul 19, 2026

Cannabis is prohibited in Malaysia and the penalty climbs steeply with weight. Under 20 grams: a fine of up to RM20,000 or up to 5 years in prison, or both. From 20 grams: a mandatory 2 to 5 years plus caning, with no fine option. From 50 grams: up to life imprisonment plus caning. At 200 grams the law presumes you are trafficking, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Two further rules reach travellers who are carrying nothing at all. Section 8 applies the Act's opium provisions to cannabis, so under section 10(2) it is a separate offence, punishable by up to 2 years, simply to frequent a place used for smoking or otherwise consuming cannabis, or to have a pipe or other cannabis utensil. And section 37(d) treats any person found with custody or control of anything whatsoever containing a dangerous drug as being in possession of it, and as having known what it was, until that person proves otherwise, so a bag or parcel you agreed to carry is treated as yours. CBD is a prescription-only poison, no cannabis medicine is registered in Malaysia, and a foreign prescription does not make it lawful to bring in.

Under 20 g: fine up to RM20,000 or up to 5 years, or both (s.6). 20 g to under 50 g: 2 to 5 years plus 3 to 9 strokes of the cane (s.39A(1)). 50 g or more: life or at least 5 years plus at least 10 strokes (s.39A(2)). 200 g or more: presumed trafficking — death or life imprisonment plus at least 12 strokes (ss.37(da), 39B). Consuming: fine up to RM5,000 or up to 2 years, plus 2 to 3 years of supervision. Frequenting a place used for smoking or otherwise consuming cannabis, or possessing a cannabis pipe or utensil: fine up to RM5,000 or up to 2 years, or both (ss.8, 10(2)). Being the owner or occupier of premises that you permit to be used for consuming cannabis, or being concerned in the management of such premises: fine up to RM10,000 or up to 3 years, or both (ss.8, 10(1)). Growing one plant: life plus caning (s.6B).

Verified Sep 15, 2026

Prescription medications must be in original packaging with a prescription; controlled substances need a written prescription and a 30-day limit, and CBD/THC products are absolutely prohibited even with a US prescription.

Cannabis-related medications fall under severe drug penalties.

Verified Jul 19, 2026

It is illegal to bring guns, ammunition, and even spent shells or casings into Malaysia.

Up to 7 years in prison or fines up to $2,500 for bringing guns, ammunition, or even spent shells or casings into Malaysia.

Verified Jul 19, 2026

Cash exceeding USD 10,000 (or equivalent in Ringgit) must be declared on both entry and exit.

Verified Jul 19, 2026

Some items are banned outright from your bags: obscene material - and the ban expressly reaches digital files on your phone or laptop - and any cloth or animal skin printed with verses of the Quran. Others need a permit obtained before you travel: drones of any kind, blades and imitation or toy guns, and ivory or wildlife articles. If in doubt, use the Red Lane.

Non-declaration or false declaration of prohibited goods is an offence under the Customs Act 1967, and RMCD warns that misuse of the Green Lane may attract penalties or imprisonment. The Order itself sets prohibitions rather than penalties, and the penalty provisions of the Customs Act were not read this session, so no fine figure is stated.

Verified Sep 3, 2026

You may bring in 1 litre of alcohol in total - wine, spirits, beer or malt liquor combined - duty-free on arrival, and the same 1 litre applies whether you come by air, land or sea. Anything above 1 litre goes through the Red Lane and pays duty and tax. Tobacco and vapes get no allowance at all.

Failure to declare, or a false declaration, is an offence under the Customs Act 1967. RMCD states that misusing the Green Lane while carrying dutiable goods may draw penalties or imprisonment. No alcohol-specific fine figure is published on the traveller page.

Verified Sep 3, 2026

Vaping counts as smoking under Malaysian law, so it is banned everywhere smoking is - eating places, air-conditioned shops, shopping complexes, public transport, school buses and airport areas outside the designated smoking rooms - and under-18s may not buy or use a vape. Your device and e-liquid also get no duty-free allowance, so declare them at the Red Lane.

Smoking or vaping in a gazetted non-smoking area: fine not exceeding RM5,000 (Act 852 s.16(3)). Selling a vape or e-liquid to a person under 18: an individual faces up to RM20,000 or 1 year or both for a first offence and RM30,000 or 2 years for a subsequent one; a body corporate faces RM20,000 to RM100,000 or up to 2 years for a first offence and RM50,000 to RM300,000 or up to 3 years for a subsequent one (s.13(2)). A minor who buys or uses: fine up to RM500 or community service (s.13(4), s.17(2)). Failure to declare a vape at customs is a separate offence under the Customs Act 1967.

Verified Sep 3, 2026

Malaysia gives travellers no duty-free tobacco at all. Cigarettes, tobacco products, smoking pipes, e-cigarettes and vape liquids are expressly excluded from the traveller exemption - they are taxable from the first unit. Declare them.

The Green Lane is only for travellers with nothing dutiable; the Royal Malaysian Customs Department states that penalties or imprisonment may be imposed for misusing the lane under Malaysian law. The guide does not publish a specific monetary figure for undeclared tobacco, so none is asserted here.

Verified Sep 2, 2026

You may drive in Malaysia only with both a valid International Driving Permit (obtained before arrival) and a valid US license; traffic drives on the left.

Driving without an IDP is against local law and can bring fines.

Verified Jul 19, 2026

It is illegal to photograph certain buildings in Malaysia, including military and government buildings and Ministry of Health facilities such as public hospitals and clinics.

Verified Jul 19, 2026

Drone use is restricted (check the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia) and satellite phone use is restricted (check the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission).

Verified Jul 19, 2026

Homosexual acts are illegal under Malaysian law; police sometimes raid venues popular with LGBTQ travelers, and some states add separate Sharia penalties for Muslims.

Punishments can include up to 20 years in prison or caning; some states' Sharia laws add up to 3 years plus caning for Muslims.

Verified Jul 19, 2026

It is illegal to proselytize another faith to Malaysian Muslims; religious police and authorities sometimes raid nightspots and hotels to enforce rules against activities contrary to Muslim custom.

Criminal penalties apply.

Verified Jul 19, 2026