KUCHING: Police arrested 328 people and seized various types of drugs, believed to be valued at RM2.02 million, in a state-wide anti-drug operations codenamed ‘Ops Tapis Khas’.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the suspects comprising 316 men and 12 women, are aged between 17 and 65 years.
Of the figure, 233 of the suspects have been tested positive for various drugs.
The police also obtained arrest warrants and detained 17 for drug cases.
Mohd Azman said the arrests were the result of 201 raids carried out at active ports, residential areas, shophouses, and other various premises and locations across the state.
“The operation held from Jan 17 to 19, also saw police confiscating drugs, such as ecstasy powder (as 39.8kg), syabu (240.83 grams), cannabis (59.20 grams), 362 ecstasy pills, and 86 Erimin five pills.
“The amount of the drugs seized can cater to about 134,437 people.
“The highest drug seizure was recorded in Miri, worth RM1.99 million, followed by Kuching (RM9,000) and Bintulu (RM4,722),” he said.
Mohd Azman also revealed that 13 suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act (ADB) 1952; 22 suspects under Section 39A (1) ADB 1952; 59 under Section 12 (2) ADB 1952; one person under Section 6 ADB 1952; and 233 under Section 15 (1) (a) ADB 1952.
He said 12 suspects are being investigated under Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for a jail term up to seven years and whipping up to three lashes, upon conviction.
From Jan 1 to 19, the Sarawak Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) arrested 837 individuals, an increase of 394 arrests, compared to last year’s arrest figure of 443 in the same period.
As for drug seizures, it showed an increase of RM2.25 million from RM524,153.06 last year to RM2.77 million this year.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata and Sarawak NCID chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah.
