PETALING JAYA: Police seized drugs and precursor chemicals weighing more than 150 tonnes with an estimated street value of RM1.85bil in the first six months of this year, underscoring the scale of the country's ongoing battle against drug trafficking syndicates.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the seizures were made through 622 operations conducted nationwide between January and June.
The operations also led to the dismantling of 155 drug trafficking syndicates and the arrest of 441 individuals, while nine clandestine drug laboratories were raided, resulting in the detention of 18 suspects.
"The statistics not only reflect the magnitude of the drug threat we are facing, but also demonstrate the Royal Malaysia Police's resolve in thwarting attempts to smuggle, distribute and abuse drugs in the country," he said in a statement on Thursday (July 30).
Comm Hussein said the value of drugs and precursor chemicals seized rose from RM1.77bil involving 123,996kg in the corresponding period last year to RM1.85bil involving 150,106kg this year.
He added that the department also dealt a financial blow to organised crime groups by seizing RM79.2mil in syndicate assets, while RM10.84mil worth of assets had been forfeited.
"This ensures that illicit profits generated from criminal activities cannot be channelled back into strengthening syndicate operations," he said.
Comm Hussein said police also stepped up preventive action against suspected traffickers under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, with 503 individuals detained during the six-month period, compared with 308 in the same period last year.
He said the increase reflected the department's continued commitment to dismantling drug syndicates and preventing offenders from returning to trafficking activities.
To tackle repeat drug offenders, Comm Hussein said police also took action under Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 against 4,427 repeat offenders, an offence punishable with imprisonment of between five and seven years and up to three strokes of the cane.
Looking ahead, he said the NCID would shift from a largely tactical and reactive operational approach to a more strategic model driven by intelligence, data analytics and technology.
He said the department would also strengthen control over precursor chemicals and supply chains, enhance digital financial forensic capabilities, intensify asset forfeiture efforts and leverage artificial intelligence and big data to improve operational effectiveness.
Comm Hussein also urged members of the public to assist police by channelling information on drug-related activities through the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222.
