KUALA LUMPUR: Police scored a huge success in crippling several drug distribution syndicates when they busted six drug processing labs and seized various drugs worth almost RM263 million in the first half of this year.
Bukit Aman Secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin, in a statement today, said a total of 81,706 suspects were arrested between January and June for various drug-related offences.
They were detained under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Poisons Act 1952 and Drug Addiction (Rehabilitation and Recovery) Act 1983, as compared with 66,889 arrests for the same period last year.
She said the half-year statistics showed that a total of 69,648 cases were reported as compared with 55,560 cases for the same period in 2021.
She said the RM262,355,571.95 worth of seized items included 10,464.20kg of various types of drugs, 2,394.9 litres of liquid drugs, 69,132.69kg of ketum leaves and 44,809.30 litres of ketum drink.
Noorsiah said although the value of drugs seized was lower compared with the same period in 2021, the number in terms of enforcement and arrests was significantly higher this time.
"Last year, during the same period, the Narcotics Department seized 15,397.61kg and 5,342.63 litres of various drugs, 148,407.57kg of ketum leaves and 54,267.57 litres of ketum drink.
"The value of items is more than double (than the value of seized items during the corresponding period this year) .
"In 2021, police busted 10 drug processing labs and picked up 51 suspects believed to be involved. This year six labs and 18 arrests have been recorded so far."
Noorsiah said the department seized assets and property believed to be obtained from the sale of drugs amounting to RM79.251 million and, of that amount, RM9.06 million worth of items were successfully forfeited according to the same act.
"Police in an effort to keep drug-related activities off the streets have also detained 997 suspects (compared with only 575 in 2021) under the Crime Prevention Special Measures Act 1985," she said.
Under the special measures, a suspect believed to be involved in any drug-related offence, especially distribution, can be detained for up to 60 days without being brought to court.
This measure is enforced using police powers under the Police Act and decided by the Home Ministry at the end of the 60-day detention period.