BUKIT KAYU HITAM: A Form Six student from a school in Jitra has been detained 23 others by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) after returning from a holiday in Thailand during the National Day break on Monday (Sept 1).
Kedah director Khairul Anwar Ahmad said the arrests were made under Ops Merdeka 2025, conducted from 3pm on Saturday until 1pm Monday at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) Complex.
"The operation, involving three officers and 12 personnel, focused on detecting drug abuse among incoming travellers and preventing cross-border smuggling.
"Thirty vehicles and 15 motorcycles were inspected, with 31 individuals ordered to undergo urine tests. Of that number, 23 tested positive for various drugs," he told reporters here on Monday.
He said those detained were 21 men and two women, aged between 18 and 40, including the Form Six student and her 25-year-old partner, who were arrested at 6am the same day.
"The student tested positive for ketamine, believed to have been taken while partying at an entertainment outlet, while the others tested positive for cannabis, methamphetamine and MDMA," he said.
Khairul Anwar added that all those detained were held under Section 3(1)(a) of the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 for further action.
He said initial investigations indicated that most of the detainees were first-time users who had experimented with drugs at entertainment venues.
"AADK recommends continued student screenings to detect drug abuse, particularly in schools," he said. - Bernama
