SANDAKAN: Former Karamunting assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin meets Sandakan police officers to address community concerns regarding alleged "magic mushroom" drug abuse among local youths.
Hiew and local village chiefs reported that a cheap, water-soluble substance known as "piu-piu" was allegedly circulating in Kampung Seng Kee and Kampung Gelam Laut.
Hiew said Residents complained for over two months about youths behaving erratically after consuming the suspected mushroom vape liquid, raising public safety fears near coastal areas.
Sandakan police officers informed the delegation that intelligence gathering was underway to trace the source of the substance and address the alleged drug trafficking.
The delegation included Karamunting Community Development Leader Yap Hsiu Min, Parti Bersatu Sabah Karamunting division chief David Fong and several village heads.
They met Sandakan district Criminal Investigation Department chief DSP Che Rafizi Che Ramli, district Special Branch chief DSP Roslee Haris, district Internal Security and Public Order chief DSP Sham B Osman and district Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department chief ASP Kisshen Hafize Ezwan.
On Tuesday (Aug 4), Tanjong Papat assemblyman Alex Thien requested an immediate investigation into a viral video showing a student displaying abnormal body movements, purportedly linked to the substance.
The National Poison Centre in August 2024 reported that "magic mushroom" vape products contained synthetic drugs rather than natural psilocybin. Similar findings emerged in January 2025, when the National Anti-Drugs Agency detected synthetic cannabis in tests involving 50 users.
