Drugs worth RM2.44 million seized in Dec last year — Harden

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Harden (centre) speaking to reporters. — Penerangan Photo

KUCHING: Sarawak recorded a staggering amount of RM2.44 million in drugs seizure in December last year when 18.65kg of various drugs were seized.

The total amount of seizure last year was RM15.2 million, an increase of 107.31 per cent from RM7.33 million recorded in 2019, said Assistant Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis.

He was speaking at an event to address the issue of drugs and substances abuse in the state at his office yesterday.

“For December 2020, 18.65kg of various drugs were seized by narcotics enforcement agency, Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) of the Royal Malaysian police and Customs Department. Of that figure, 9.41kg is marijuana, 5.59kg (syabu/methamphetamine), 2.17kg (ecstasy powder), 0.36kg (ketamine) and 9.36g (Eramin-5 powder),” he said.

He added that the seizure was about by 174.26 per cent or 6.8kg more than the seizure recorded in the previous month.

Aside from that, the state recorded a total of 11,442 drug related arrests in 2020, with 538 cases and 542 arrests from 529 operations in December, he said further.

Giving a breakdown, he said Kuching led the tally with 3,679 cases, followed by Miri (1,198), Bintulu (1,060), Sibu (922) and Samarahan (606).

Of the arrests, 92.89 per cent were male and the rest were females, he said, adding most of them were aged between 19 and 29 years.

“Throughout 2020, 945 inmates were jailed for various drug and substance abuse offences, a decline of 25.94 per cent compared to 1,276 people in 2019.

“Similar decline was seen at Henry Gurney School with 21 inmates compared to 25 inmates the previous year.”

The Simanggang assemblyman also said 6,892 enforcement operations were held throughout 2020 in Sarawak, which saved 147,480 individuals from drugs abuse.

Present were NCID Sarawak deputy head Supt Wong Leong Meng and Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Early Childhood Development permanent secretary Dr Rashidah Bolhassan.