KUCHING: Sarawak police have arrested more than 300 individuals during a recent nationwide anti-narcotics operation codenamed ‘Ops Tapis Khas’.
In addition, they also seized RM124,318.33 worth of various drugs from April 18 to 20.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri in a press conference revealed that 341 locals aged between 16 and 67 have been arrested throughout the state.
“The top three districts with the highest arrests are Kuching with 85, Sibu – 48, and Miri – 39.
“Other than that, we also seized various drugs such as 265.43g of syabu, 5,450g of Ecstasy powder, 117g of marijuana and 69 Erimin 5 pills.
“These can cater to about 2,080 drug abusers,” he told reporters at the Sarawak IPK Media Centre today.
The goals of ‘Ops Tapis Khas’ are to target fishing jetties, illegal jetties and active ports suspected of being places of drug distribution and abuse; enforce the law against individuals or groups involved in drug-related activities; and put pressure on trafficking syndicates and drug addicts.
From the operation, four fishing jetties were raided which resulted in arrests – two in Kuching, one in Lawas and one in Limbang.
Azman explained that in Sarawak, the drug problems at fishing jetties is not too serious as there are controls and patrols by the narcotics and marine police.
He added that the total value of properties forfeited under Section 25 of the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988 was RM61,611.83. These include an RM30,000 Perodua Alza in Miri and RM27,611.84 in a bank account in Sibu.
The police have opened a total of 297 investigation papers under various Sections of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 – Section 39B (two cases); Section 39A (2) (two cases); Section 39A (1) (10 cases); Section 12 (2) (50 cases); Section 15 (1)(a) (231 cases); and two cases under Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
Azman said of the figure, 168 cases have been prosecuted in court while the rest are still under investigation.
“Other than that, a total of 12 hardcore abusers (in Kuching, Lawas, Sibu, Padawan, Limbang, Sri Aman and Mukah) were charged under Section 39C (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and up to three lashes of the whip.
“Meanwhile, four individuals were arrested under Section 3 (1) of the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 in Kuching, Bintulu, Kapit and Miri,” he said.
Azman stressed that the operation will be carried out in stages and continuously in line with the instructions from Bukit Aman police headquarters.
Also present were Sarawak Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID) chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah and deputy chief Supt Wong Leong Meng.
