KOTA KINABALU: A large-scale operation was conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police in an effort to flush out drug addicts and pushers at a hotspot area, here early morning.
The four-hour operation, dubbed ‘Ops Sarang Khas’, began at 6am at Kampung Cenderamata 2 in Kampung Likas.
Sabah Narcotics Department Head Superintendent Mohamed Fadzil Rahman said 20 drugs addicts and pushers, aged 30 and 45, and comprised 19 men and a woman arrested by enforcement team and taken to the state police headquarters for further investigation.
“Five of the suspects are former drug convicts, four are drug pushers while eight are foreigners who have been staying illegally in the state capital,” he said at a press conference at the state police headquarters in Kepayan yesterday.
Fadzil said the operation was carried out after receiving numerous complaints of drug related activities in the area since last year.
“About 82 people were initially picked up in the operation but only 20 were detained further for drug related activities,” he said, adding that 62 people were released after their urine tested negative.
Fadzil said yesterday’s operation was the first for this year and several similar operations would be carried out in other districts.
“Yes, we will carry out similar operations. We will gather information before mobilizing our teams,” he said.