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KUCHING – Sarawak recorded a total of 3,067 arrests related to drug and substance abuse from June to August this year, said Women, Children and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
According to her, this was the result of 2,009 integrated enforcement operations carried out by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID), Royal Malaysian Customs Department, and the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) of Sarawak.
“As a result of the operation, a total of 3,067 arrests were recorded. Of that, 207 involved distribution, 672 possession of drugs and substances, and 2,188 were individuals whose urine tested positive.
“The number shows an increase of 70.57% compared with arrests in the same period in 2021 (1,798 arrests),” she said during a press conference at her office in the Baitulmakmur 2 building yesterday.
Fatimah also said that through the operation, as much as 11.3kg of drugs and compressed substances in the form of 841 pills were seized by NCID and the Customs Department with an estimated value of RM714,944.
The drug confiscation prevented 113,930 uses of drugs and illegal substances and saved 47,338 individuals for a period of one month, she added.
Meanwhile, during the same period, a total of 10 people were arrested by the Sarawak police contingent headquarters’s Criminal Investigation Department related to drug and substance issues.
“This number shows a decrease of 71.42% compared to the same period in 2021 (35 people),” she said.
Fatimah also said that from June to August 2022, 558 people in Sarawak were imprisoned for various offences related to drug and substance abuse, an increase of 200% compared with the same period in 2021 (186 people).
“To ensure that those who abuse drugs and substances do not continue to do so, our MIDS chain focuses on intervention in the form of treatment and rehabilitation.
“As of August 31 this year, a total of 2,490 people have been recorded undergoing treatment and rehabilitation,” she said.
Fatimah said that out of that number, 216 people are undergoing rehabilitation in institutions such as the Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centre, 2,274 more in the community including 1,956 persons subject to supervision from Nada, and 180 others from the Royal Malaysian police.
There are also 63 individuals who are currently undergoing rehabilitation at One-Stop Centres for Addiction and 75 are doing so on a voluntary basis at Puspen Kuching.
Fatimah was speaking to reporters after chairing the monthly meeting of the One-Stop Committee to deal with the issue of drugs and substances at her office here yesterday.
Before the press conference, she received a visit from NCID director Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
Also present during the press conference was Deputy Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister II Mohammad Razi Sitam. – Borneo Post Online, September 23, 2022