SARATOK: A 29-year-old man was arrested on drug-related offences during targeted police operations in Saratok, as authorities step up enforcement in identified crime hotspots across Kabong.
The suspect, a local resident who is self-employed, tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine during the operation on Friday.
He is being investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The arrest came as part of a coordinated effort by the Saratok District Police Headquarters (IPD) to curb index crimes and increase enforcement visibility in areas flagged for higher criminal activity.
The operations combined roadblocks, snap checks and mobile patrols, reflecting a broader policing strategy focused on deterrence through presence.
A total of 14 personnel, including one officer, were deployed in the exercise, which concentrated on villages, residential areas and public spaces in Kabong.
Police screened 85 individuals and inspected 70 vehicles, with motorcycles forming the largest proportion of checks.
Enforcement action resulted in 29 traffic summonses, largely involving motorcyclists, a group frequently associated with both traffic violations and vehicle theft cases in semi-rural districts.
In addition to the arrest, police seized five motorcycles under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, indicating suspected offences linked to documentation or regulatory non-compliance.
Saratok District Police Chief, DSP Mathew Manggie, said the operations proceeded without incident, supported by favourable weather conditions that allowed officers to maintain consistent patrol coverage.
He said such operations would continue as part of a sustained approach to disrupt criminal activity, particularly in areas identified through crime pattern analysis.
Police say continued visibility, combined with targeted enforcement, is key to deterring opportunistic offences and strengthening public confidence in community safety.
