KUCHING, June 25: The recent increase in arrests of drug smugglers through couriers as well as cargo services at Sarawak major airports and ports has prompted action from the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development.
Its Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said a work visit to the Kuching International Airport (KIA) cargo centre today was held for the One Stop Committee (OSC) Addressing Drugs and Substances Issues (MIDS) members to understand the risk of drugs and substances entry into the State through cargo.
“This visit is also intended to provide input to the State OSC MIDS for the preparation of a briefing on efforts to address drugs and substances issues in Sarawak to the Chief Minister on July 1.
“So this morning, I would like to see the process of receiving goods at the KIA cargo centre in order to understand and identify the constraints faced by enforcement agencies in detecting drugs and substances at the airport.
“This is important so that we can find a strategy and solution to be able to curb the entry or smuggling of drugs and illegal substances into Sarawak,” she said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Fatimah also expressed appreciation to KIA and KIA MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASKargo) for accepting her delegation visit this morning, and to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Kastam) for arranging it.
Among those present at the visit were officers from the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN), Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK Sarawak) and the National Anti-drug Agency Sarawak Department (AADK). — DayakDaily
