SIBU: Six teenagers were among 14 individuals rounded up in back-to-back anti-drug operations, with authorities raising concerns over youths falling into drug abuse due to troubled family backgrounds and lack of supervision.
The youngest detainee was only 15 years old.
In Sibu, the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) detained eight individuals during ‘Ops Cegah’ conducted on Monday (May 11).
Those arrested, aged between 15 and 39, comprised six teenage boys, a man and a woman.
Initial urine screening tests found all eight positive for methamphetamine, commonly known as syabu.
AADK said preliminary investigations found that several of the teenagers came from broken families, with insufficient parental care and monitoring believed to have contributed to their involvement in drug abuse.
Meanwhile in Kuching, another six individuals, including a woman, were picked up during inspections carried out at several identified drug abuse hotspots on Sunday (May 10).
The operation covered Kampung Astana, Bandar Baru Semariang, Kampung Boyan, Kampung Tabuan and Flat Taman Malihah.
The agency said urine screening tests conducted on all six detainees also returned positive results for methamphetamine.
All suspects from both operations were detained under Section 3(1) of the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 for further action.
AADK said integrated enforcement operations would continue to be intensified as part of ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse and protect communities from the growing social threat.
