KUCHING, June 17: Sarawak One Stop Committee (OSC) has reported a decrease of 16.5 per cent of drugs and substances issues in Sarawak for the month of May, 2021.
According to Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, for the month of May 2021, a total of 540 enforcement operations were conducted by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID), Custom Department and the State National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) throughout the State, with 607 individuals arrested.
“A total of 42 arrest involving drugs trafficking, 155 for possessing drugs and substances, while 410 others involved individuals who are found positive during the urine test conducted, which is a decreased of 16.5 per cent, compared to the statistic from April 2021,” she said in a virtual press conference today.
Fatimah said through the various operations, a total of 24.8 kg of drugs and substances worth RM282,706.18, in compressed form, including 28 in pill’s form, were seized by the NCID and the Custom Department.
“As a result of these arrests and seizures, we can cut the supply and restrict the demand for drugs and substances in Sarawak, which is the two main strategies in the Sarawak OCS MIDS Action Plan Chain,” said the Dalat assembly women.
At the same time, Fatimah assured that in order to prevent those involved from continuing to use drugs and substances, the MIDS chain will focus on intervention in the form of treatment and rehabilitation.
She said for May 2021, a total of 2,246 individuals have been recorded undergoing rehabilitation in the Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen), with 2,130 others in the community rehabilitation center).
“The State OSD MIDS this year has also increased the access to the treatment and rehabilitation in the community to high-risk districts by expanding the One Stop Centre for Addiction in seven selected health clinics, namely in Lawas, Limbang, Subis, Betong, Bau, Bintulu and Sibu.
“Apart from that, we also established a Community Development and Intervention Center (CDIC) which serves as a community caring house. A pilot project is being implemented in Bau District by Bau District OCS MIDS,” she said. – DayakDaily.
