Drugs worth RM2.4bil seized since 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: The war on drugs has led to 69.3 tonnes of drugs worth more than RM2.4bil being seized in raids nationwide over the past five years.

This year, up to July 31, the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) has already seized RM276mil worth of drugs, including 11.4 tonnes of drugs and 2,458 litres of drugs in liquid form.

“Our enforcement efforts have always been consistent in the war on drugs.

“We cannot afford to let our guard down in combating the drug menace,” Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain told The Star.

He said 8.1 tonnes of drugs worth RM342.5mil were seized in 2019, followed by 13 tonnes (RM458.8mil) in 2020 and 27.9 tonnes (RM965mil) last year.

“Ganja remains the most popular drug, making up 45% of the total drug haul. Some 5.06 tonnes of ganja were seized this year compared with 2.38 tonnes last year, which is a spike of 112%.

“The second most popular drug is syabu with 2.97 tonnes seized this year, followed by ketamine at 2.19 tonnes. Our efforts have been focused on curbing the smuggling of drugs from neighbouring countries.

“We cannot rule out the possibility that Malaysia is still being used as a transit point to smuggle drugs to other countries such as Indonesia, China and Australia,” he added.

Razarudin said the NCID had busted 138 drug syndicates and detained 490 syndicate members this year.

“Syndicates are an organised crime group that controls drug trafficking. However, we have to collect actionable intelligence to successfully bring them down,” he said.

In 2020, the police took down 305 syndicates and detained 1,204 syndicate members, while last year they busted 297 syndicates and detained 1,221 members.

“Throughout the years, the NCID has tightened enforcement efforts on transportation routes, be it via land, sea or air.

“The efforts are ongoing via operations such as roadblocks and Ops Benteng. We have been able to curb various smuggling attempts.

“We are also strengthening our intelligence gathering and cooperation with other enforcement agencies to more effectively curb drug smuggling,” said Razarudin.

In 2019, a total of 175,038 individuals were arrested for drug-related offences, followed by 146,065 in 2020 and 129,604 individuals last year, he added.

“We have arrested 97,249 people this year. The NCID has also busted nine drug labs in the country and nabbed 35 people, including four chemists.

“We raided a drug lab in Kedah and two drug labs each in Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

“Five suspects were arrested in Kedah, three in Penang, seven in Perak, five in Kuala Lumpur and 15 in Selangor,” he said.

Close to RM90mil worth of assets belonging to drug syndicates were seized between Jan 1 and July 31, he added.

“Last year, RM162mil in assets were seized. Seizing and subsequently performing forfeitures on the assets are integral to crippling the syndicates’ financial sources and capacity,” he said.

To combat rampant drug abuse, Razarudin said the NCID conducted an operation code-named Ops Tapis Khas nationwide.

“The NCID targeted areas such as Felda settlements and People’s Housing Projects, where drug abuse is rampant.

“The operation has largely dented the activities of drug ‘tokan’ (drug pushers) and addicts.

“I believe this operation will reduce the number of pushers and addicts and it shows the police are not ‘sleeping on the job’, as such efforts are still ongoing and will be continuously conducted,” he added.