KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 687 civil servants over drug-related offences last year.
Federal Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the number included five senior officers from an enforcement agency in Pahang who were detained under Section 3(1) of the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985.
"This shows that we do not compromise with any civil servants involved in drug trafficking or abuse."
Police also busted 229 drug trafficking syndicates, including a major ring in Sabah, involving the arrest of 709 suspects.
"On Sept 9, 2022, we arrested the head of a major syndicate in Sabah that was actively trafficking Ecstasy and drug-laced juice drinks at entertainment centres," said Ayob Khan.
He said police uncovered 15 drug laboratories and arrested five drugmakers last year.
He said police seized RM124 million in assets from drug syndicates and forfeited RM24.61 million in assets last year, from RM19.15 million in assets forfeited in 2021.
"We seized drugs worth RM461 million last year, involving 18.4 tonnes of various drugs, 3,437 litres of drugs, 106.4 tonnes of ketum leaves and 52,886 litres of ketum water.
"We disposed of drugs worth RM103 million last year, involving 101 tonnes of drugs, 352,260 litres of liquid drugs and 9,571 pills."
In 2022, police opened 71,763 investigation papers related to drug offences. Of that number, 66,443 cases were taken to court, with a conviction rate of 92.59 per cent.
"Last year, we carried out Op Tapis Khas Series 1 to 7. During the operations, we arrested 25,566 individuals aged between 13 and 71, including 1,444 individuals who are wanted by the police," said Ayob Khan.
He said the department received 110 public complaints and solved 65 of them.
"Anybody with information on drug trafficking or abuse in their areas can channel them to our hotline at 012-208 7222."
