Nationwide anti-drug op nabs over 4,000 suspects

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 4,000 people were arrested following a three-day nationwide anti-drug operation.

Police also seized about RM1.4mil worth of drugs and assets throughout the operations.

Police secretary Deputy Comm Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said they conducted the fifth Ops Tapis Khas between July 27 and 29 through the Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID).

"A total of 1,864 personnel members were involved with the help of the National Anti Drug Agency and Road Transport Department (JPJ).

"We conducted 201 roadblocks at various JPJ stations, rest stops, border entry points and Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complexes," she said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 2).

She said the objective of the operations was to identify and arrest drug kingpins, destroy drug dens, take action against habitual drug addicts, and identify and arrest those wanted for drug crimes.

"We also conducted the operations to take action against drug distributors and heavy vehicle operators.

"Throughout the operations, we checked 9,684 individuals and arrested 4,243 of them for various drug offences," she said, adding those arrested were aged between 14 and 70.

DCP Noorsiah said those arrested included 426 kingpins, 2,077 drug addicts and 196 wanted persons.

"We seized heroin (2.8kg), syabu (2.9kg), ketamin (2.1kg), ganja (5.75kg), Erimin 5 (40g), yaba pills (1.17kg), ecstasy (80g), ketum (83.94kg), as well as 250g of psychotropic pills.

"We also seized over 492 litres of ketum liquid, 15.36 litres of codeine, 34 ganja plants, three air rifles, one pistol and 30 live bullets," she said adding that they also seized RM13,228 cash, RM450 worth of jewellery, vehicles worth RM789,730, watches worth RM4,000, an electric guitar worth RM2,400 and drum set worth RM1,800.

DCP Noorsiah said since the first Ops Tapis between January and July, 20,561 people had been arrested for various drug offences while over two tonnes and 2,530 litres of drugs worth over RM15mil had been seized.

"Those arrested comprised 2,808 kingpins, 10,739 addicts, 932 wanted persons while 755 were arrested under special preventive measures.

"We also arrested 1,656 individuals under Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and 3,671 individuals for other offences," she said.

Those with information on drug activities should contact the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222.