KUCHING: The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) has arrested 63 individuals in an operation codenamed ‘Ops Total Enforcement II’ from June 22 to 24.
Sarawak director Wan Madihi Wan Salleh said of the total arrests, 41 were nabbed in Miri, 16 in Samarahan and six in Kuching.
“However, only 52 men and one woman tested positive for drug abuse,” he said.
He revealed this at a press conference in conjunction with International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held at Sarawak AADK office in Jalan Haji Taha here on Friday (June 26).
The individuals will be investigated under the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act, 1983.
Madihi further mentioned that AADK had identified high risk areas in the state namely Matang, Kampung Tabuan Melayu and Kampung Haji Baki in Kuching; Kampung Tanjung Bundong and Kampung Baru in Samarahan as well as Bekenu and Batu Niah in Miri.
From Jan 1 until June 9 this year, Sarawak AADK had received 349 complaints of which 173 had been handled while 176 were still ongoing, he said.
“We also conducted 157 operations statewide within the same period, with 511 arrests made and 342 tested positive for drug abuse,” he said.
On the implementation of drug prevention programmes as well as AADK services during the Covid-19 crisis, the agency focused on doing this through digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The agency had produced three short videos namely Tong Gas 1, 2 and 3, while the fourth video is expected to be completed next month.
“The video tells the story of a drug addict in a village, which visualises the reality of his livelihood and can be taken as a lesson by the community,” he said.
Regarding entry of new person-under-surveillance cases into rehabilitation centres, Sarawak AADK was still awaiting word from the Ministry of Health (MoH) to conduct swab tests, he said..
He also revealed that the construction of the new Narcotics Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) building in Jalan Puncak Borneo was expected to be completed in October.
Also present were Sarawak AADK deputy director (treatment and rehabilitation) Azli Senin, deputy director (enforcement and security) Winnie Lugit as well as Enforcement Unit chief Jesnik Gindol.
