Drug trafficking increased during MCO phase 2, says narcotics chief

- Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the movement control order (MCO) being in force, almost 4,000 people have been detained so far for drug-related offences, says Bukit Aman Narcotic Crimes Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Ramli Din (pic).

He said 3,923 were detained for drug-related offences nationwide between March 18 and April 16.

"From those detained, 208 were arrested for drug trafficking under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.

"We also seized RM7.5mil's worth of drugs during the same period," he told a press conference in Bukit Aman on Friday (April 17).

Comm Ramli said during phase one of the MCO, the drug pushing trend was slow but it began to pick up in phase two.

"In phase two, we discovered that large-scale traffickers were back in business due to demand from customers," he said.

The NCID recorded 3,085 cases during the MCO period, including five big-scale drug-trafficking cases between April 10 and April 13.

"The first case was in Kuala Selangor where RM3.5mil's worth of drugs were seized, including 61kg of syabu.

"This was followed by two drug busts in Penang where five men were detained on April 10 and April 11 and RM56,000 of drugs, including 6kg of heroin seized. We also seized more than RM1mil's worth of the syndicate's assets," he said.

There was also a 20kg heroin drug bust in Taiping, Perak and the seizure of 12kg of ketamine hidden in boxes of raisins.

"We also seized 4.5kg of heroin and 1.5kg heroin-base (used to make the drug) in Bayan Lepas, Penang.

"The drug bust led us to storage areas where drugs, including 66kg of syabu, 3,300 erimin 5 pills and 417g of ganja, were seized. The drugs seized in various locations were worth RM717,000," he said.

On a related matter, Comm Ramli said 151 people, aged between 14 and 40, were arrested for being involved in wild parties during the MCO.

"A total of 12 cases were in Johor, three cases in Penang, while Perak and Kuala Lumpur recorded one case each.

"An array of drugs, including ketamine, ecstasy, erimin 5 and ketum water were also seized," he said.