Let’s work together to clean Padawan of social ills — Police

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KUCHING: The best way to curb loan shark, drug abuse, and cyber gambling problems in Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) areas is for the public and government agencies to work closely with the police.

Padawan police chief Supt Pauzi Bujang, who made the call, advised the public to stay clear of illegal money leaders. In the case of drug abuse, he said, “The people are advised to give information about the distribution or possession of drugs to the Padawan Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.

“Complaints about illegal online gambling can be made directly to our CID unit,” Pauzi said in a press statement yesterday.

He said this in response to the recent `SOS’ by PMC chairman Lo Khere Chiang to the police to help his office combat these three social ills in areas under its jurisdiction.

On another matter, Pauzi said the crime index in Padawan showed a five per cent drop in the first nine months of this year.

“But there is a slightly increase in the number of car and motorcycle thefts. We have mounted operations to keep a lid on this crime.

As for cyber gambling, he said, “This year, 75 raids were conducted on premises operating online gambling and 1,155 computers were seized and 25 cases were brought to court.” Police had also checked on money lenders 43 times and all of them were operating legally.

“(Padawan) police have conducted 37 operations to bring down banner advertisements on money lending, but so far there have been no report about illegal money lending or loan sharking.” Pauzi said his men had also been active in preventing drug abuse. From January to September this year, 370 operations were conducted on various premises.

“Altogether, 355 people were detained for drug-related offences. Two suspected drug pushers were arrested under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952, nine people under Section 39A(1), and 77 people for allegedly possessing dangerous drugs. We also rounded up 195 drug addicts, and 67 people were put under cure and rehabilitation.

“In August this year, we arrested a drug trafficker under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985.”

Pauzi said Padawan was not a hot spot area for drug abuse in the state.

“The district is not a hot spot for drug trafficking because based on the arrests and investigations made, the drugs seized were those packed in small straw tubes.”

However, police would continue to ensure security in the area by sending patrol teams on the road regularly.