Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry will form a special narcotics police team, named Ops Sting, in order to combat drug trafficking.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was made following the arrest of 33 international and local drug syndicate leaders and seizure of various drugs worth RM411 million last year, which was the highest recorded in history.
He said the team would be headed by Bukit Aman Narcotics CID director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim.
“I will announce the details on Jan 31, the day of the team’s launching,” he said at the Police Training Centre (PULAPOL) here yesterday, accompanied by Noor Rashid.
Commenting on the success of the police in crippling the syndicates, Noor Rashid said the 33 drug kingpins detained comprised Nigerians, Hong Kong nationals, Taiwanese and locals.
They were among 175,198 individuals who were nabbed for various narcotics offences last year, he said adding that police also seized assets such as land, houses, cash in bank accounts and cars amounting to RM94.96 million. — Bernama