KUCHING: In the 540 anti-drug operations carried out in May this year statewide, 607 arrests were made.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development (KKWPK) Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the number was a decrease of 16.5 per cent compared to 727 arrests in April this year.
She hoped that the statistics would continue to decline as seen in the report for June thanks to the enforcement of the movement control order (MCO).
Fatimah said enforcement was done by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
“Of the total, 42 arrests involved drug distribution, 155 for possession of drugs and substances, while the other 410 arrests were due to positive urine tests.”
She revealed this data during a virtual press conference on Thursday (June 17).
Fatimah further explained that 24,795.06g (24.79kg) of drugs and substances were confiscated by the NCID, and Royal Malaysian Customs Department in May.
“From this total, 18,738.6g (18.73kg) were cannabis, 5,642.36g (5.64 kg) were syabu/methamphetamine, 361.6g (0.3kg) Ecstasy powder and Ketamine, 52.5g (00.52kg).
“For drugs which are in pill form, 28 were seized – 10 were Ecstacy and nine, Eramin 5 and Naspon respectively.”
The seizure of pills in May was a decrease of 87 per cent in compared to April’s total of 217 pills.
Fatimah noted that the value of drug seizure for May was estimated at RM282,850.18, an increase of 25.58 per cent from April’s RM225,000.
“The seizures can prevent as many as 24,809 times the usage of drugs and substances, saving the lives of 6,2026.8 individuals within a month in Sarawak. Meanwhile, the value of seizure since January this year is estimated to be at a staggering RM6.27mil.
“As a result of the arrests and seizures, we can restrict the supply and demand of drugs and substances in the state. This is one of the main strategies in the OSC MIDS Sarawak Action Plan.”
