Mazlan (centre) witnesses the handing-over-of-duties between Lukas (left) and Sekam.
KUCHING: State Police Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor has urged parents to be mindful of their daughters’ acquaintances to ensure they are not groomed into drug mules.
He said seven such cases occurred so far this year: girls in their late teens and early 20s were used as mules to collect drug parcels on behalf of their boyfriends.
“These girls were used to collect parcels of drugs from courier services or other locations by their friends whom they are involved with romantically.
“They start out as friends and then the friendship becomes romantic; soon they are asked to help pick parcels, which make them indirectly involved in drug smuggling activities,” Mazlan told a press conference yesterday after witnessing the handing-over of duties for the post of state Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) head.
He added that although the seven cases recorded so far this year might seem like a small figure, it remained a problem that needed to be addressed early.
“Don’t wait until your daughters are caught and then come to see us in distress and pleading with us. It is too late, and there is nothing we can do.”
Meanwhile, outgoing state NCID head ACP Lukas Aket said there were 5,582 drug-related arrests made throughout the state so far this year for offences ranging from trafficking and possession to drug consumption.
He said police had so far seized RM2.7 million worth of properties belonging to drug offenders as well as detained 23 individuals under the Special Preventive Measures.
Local boy Lukas, who was recently promoted to the rank of ACP, is slated to take over the post of Johor NCID head, having served as Sarawak NCID head for the past two-and-a-half years.
He handed over his duties to DSP Sekam Anoi, who will be acting chief pending the arrival of the new state NCID head next week.