Pics courtesy of NADA
KANGAR: Their children, aged 1 and 3, have not been fed with milk for over a week.
This wasn’t because the couple could not afford the milk formula, but instead had other priorities, such as getting their drug fix.
The children's situation was uncovered by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) when they inspected the couple's house during the three-day Ops Perdana, which ended today.
Not only did the couple test positive for methamphetamine abuse, the woman was found to be five-months pregnant for their third child.
Perlis Nada director Azizah Ahmad said the children are now living with their grandmother.
She said there were three other children, aged between 3 and 6, living with the elderly woman.
It was learnt that two of them are the children of the female drug addict's sister, who is apparently in jail, while the third child was adopted by the family.
Azizah said investigation revealed that the couple were repeat offenders, having been released from prison for the same offence six months ago.
"The husband completed his sentence at the Perlis Correctional Centre in Guar Nangka while his wife was released from the Pokok Sena Prison in March," she said in a statement.
She said the family’s case has been referred to the state Welfare Department for further action. Immediate aid had been rendered to the family.
Azizah said the couple were among 34 junkies rounded up during the three-day joint-operation with various agencies, focusing on Kampung Tok Kuning in Kuala Perlis, Sg Padang in Simpang Empat, Kg Tanah Timbul in Kuala Sanglang and Changkat Jawi in Arau which ended today.
“Out of 67 individuals screened, seven tested positive for opiates while the other 27 tested positive for methamphetamine.
“The suspects, aged between 15 and 40, comprising 32 men and two women, are being investigated under Section 3(1) of the Drug Addiction Act 1983 amendment 1998 for drug abuse," she said.
During the operation, a pusher was also detained for possession of eight Eramin 5 pills, 17g of morphine and 1.66g of syabu.
He is being investigated under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Azizah said the Ops Perdana was participated by the National Border Security Agency (Aksem), state Immigration Department, National Registration Department, Civil Defence Force and Road Transport Department.