KUCHING: Sarawak enforcement agencies arrested 7,526 individuals across 5,675 operations between January and May this year, with Kuching recording the highest number of drug-related arrests at 2,080 cases.
Presenting the findings at the One Stop Committee on Addressing Drug and Substance Issues (OSC-MIDS) meeting, Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said the figures reflected both the scale of enforcement activity and the success of the state’s inter-agency approach to tackling drug abuse.
“We are communicating with one another in one meeting, sharing information – and that information is what helps us increase the number of arrests, seizures, and ultimately, rehabilitation outcomes,” she said at the press conference held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
Of the 7,526 individuals arrested, 350 were detained for drug trafficking, 1,274 for possession, and 5,902 were screened positive in urine tests.
A total of 444,751 grammes of controlled substances were seized during the period, comprising ecstasy, syabu, ganja, ketamine and ketum.
Based on arrest distribution mapped by zone, Kuching and Sibu were classified as red zones – defined as areas recording 500 cases or more – with Sibu logging 776 arrests.
Bintulu (787) and Miri (906) also ranked among the highest.
Fatimah extended congratulations to enforcement agencies, including the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID), PDRM and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, as well as members of the public who had come forward with information.
“We are very grateful for the public’s trust. When they give information and see action being taken, they continue to come forward – and we need that trust to continue,” she said.
On the vape front, joint enforcement operations known as ‘Ops Vape 1’ was conducted from April 13 to 17, covering 98 vape premises across Sarawak in a coordinated sweep involving PDRM, the Health Department (KKM), and local authorities (PBT).
The operations found no premises selling vape products containing drugs or other controlled substances, though some outlets were flagged for licensing violations.
The NCID confirmed the operations were conducted in line with directives from Bukit Aman, with each agency inspecting premises under its respective jurisdiction.
