Police: 4,000 arrests in three-day nationwide drug ops

PETALING JAYA: Special operations have led to nearly 4,000 arrests after a nationwide narcotics sweep.

Police secretary Deputy Comm Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin, in a statement Thursday (Sept 29), said that the operation - dubbed Op Tapis Khas Siri 6 - was conducted from Sept 26 to Sept 28.

The operation was jointly conducted at the federal and contingent level of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.

A total of 739 inspections were conducted, including at housing projects, Felda/Felcra areas and known drug dens.

Among the objectives of the operation was to capture wanted people, to take action against repeat offenders and as a preventive move against drug distributors.

"A total of 4,630 people were checked and from that, 3,972 were arrested over various drug related offences. All those arrested were aged between 14 and 70,” she said.

Statistics of the operation showed that of those arrested, 1,856 were drug addicts, with two civil servants and a student among those caught. A further 205 people who were nabbed were on the wanted list.

Four other public servants were caught for other drug offences.

"The operation led to 81.12kg of drugs seized, as well as 1,433 litres of liquid drugs. Firearms were also found during the operation.

"In total, seizures were estimated to be around RM294,029," she said.

Seizures included 8.23kg of heroin, 58.5kg of ketum leaves, a rifle and 14 bullets.

The police have also confiscated RM892,681.97 in assets, including vehicles.

From January to September, 24,533 suspects were arrested under Ops Tapis Khas.

Ops Tapis Khas has so far netted 2,059.69kg and 3,963.32 litres in drugs worth RM16,215,500.44.