Bukit Aman: Don’t get involved with ganja

Major bust: Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh (third right) with State Police Chief Datuk Seri A. Thaiveegan (on his right) with other policemen showing the RM54mil worth of seized drugs to reporters at Police Contigent Head Quarters in George Town. — Starpic by MUSTAFA AHMAD/The Star

THE police is clear on its message to the public: Don’t get involved with drugs, including marijuana, more commonly known as ganja.

Bukit Aman Narcotic Crimes Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh says current provisions under the Dangerous Drug Act clearly states that partaking in ganja consumption is illegal.

“Growing, selling, taking or even being in possession of ganja are clear offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

“We will take action based on the rule of law on anyone involved with drugs, including ganja,” he tells Sunday Star.

While the debate on medical marijuana is still going on, Comm Mohmad says the police’s mandate is clear on anyone involved with using, selling or growing ganja.

“In short, don’t partake in it.

“Under the law, we will take the necessary action to combat the drug menace,” he warns.

This year, the NCID have already seized a record RM350mil worth of drugs between January and November, Comm Mohmad reveals.

“It is the highest since the department’s formation in 1996.

“We will increase our efforts against the drug syndicates,” he says.

“Between 1996 and 2017, the NCID have successfully seized some RM3bil worth of drugs, that would have catered to 1.4 billion addicts.

“The seized drugs included 9,164kg of syabu, 3,162kg of ketamine, 33,227kg of ganja, 7,412kg of heroin and 212kg of cocaine.

“More than two million suspects have been detained over an array of drug offences during the same period, with 1.3 million arrested for drug consumption and 177,656 for trafficking,” he says.

Comm Mohmad adds that more than 1.14 tonnes of ganja worth more than RM3.4mil have been seized this year.

In September, the seizure of RM72.5mil of party pills and ganja in Penang was the largest in the country while prior to that, some RM54mil worth of syabu was seized on Aug 31, also in Penang, he added.

In Selangor alone, state police have seized various drugs, including 299kg of ganja, as of October (this year) while some 16,815 people for drug-related offences, a 10% increase from last year.