All-time high in drug busts

KUALA LUMPUR: Police seized a record RM402.73mil worth of drugs last year after stepping up enforcement and intelligence efforts.

The increase, up 6% from RM381.09mil in 2012, is coupled with an all-time high in the number of drug-related arrests.

Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) Director Comm Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said police arrested 175,198 people on various drug-related offences in 2013, which was a 2% increase from 2012.

“Only 8%, or 13,667 of those arrested last year are identified as dealers, while the rest were caught for possession or using narcotics,” he said yesterday. He added that 4,284 of those arrested were foreigners.

Comm Noor Rashid attributed the success of the drug busts to better intelligence sharing between local police and their overseas counterparts. “We have also beefed up our capabilities in detecting drug smuggling through regular and rigorous training as well as procurement of better equipment,” he said.

He said one of the largest drug busts in 2013 was on Sept 9 when police seized 209.96kg of syabu, 40.47kg of heroin and 26.85kg of ecstasy pills worth a total of about RM50mil.

“We arrested five people, including a woman, in the bust,” he said.

Comm Noor Rashid was speaking to reporters after witnessing the handing-over of duties of two deputy directors in the NCID in Bukit Aman.

Senior Asst Comm Jamaludin Kudin replaces Senior Asst Comm Datuk Razali Ab Razak as NCID deputy director (enforcement, prevention and general duties).

SAC Razali has been appointed deputy commander of NCID’s newly formed Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics unit.

SAC Jamaludin was the NCID deputy director in charge of forfeiture of property, detention and legal affairs. His duties will be assumed by Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof, who was Commercial Crime Investigations Department deputy director.