KUANTAN, Sept 8 — Pahang police have arrested 9,662 individuals involved in various drug offences from early this year until August, with the amount of illegal substances seized valued at over RM7.9 million.
State Police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said that during the same period, the Pahang Narcotics Crime Investigation Department also confiscated, among others, various vehicles and over RM2.2 million cash.
He said, in addition to daily arrests, police also engaged in various anti-drug operations in the state via the 2nd Ops Hawk in Pekan, Maran, Lipis and here from Tuesday until yesterday.
He added that the operations, involving more than 100 police officers and other personnel, arrested 287 individuals, including nine women, aged between 17 and 60 and also seized various types of drugs with an estimated valued of RM38,830.
"Among the offences committed were for trafficking, testing positive and arrests involving wanted persons, four men were also held under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985.”
He added that the operations targeted Felda areas, riversides and fishermen's jetties.
Yahaya also said, Ops Hawk, managed to reduce the number of "pots” to obtain drugs in Pahang by shutting down five "pots” in Felda areas and one at a riverside.
He said police also took the initiative by enhancing enforcement under Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is that hardcore addicts or repeat offenders will be handed longer jail terms of not less than five years and a whipping.
"This approach can separate the hardcore addicts and new addicts, whereby through this separation the new addicts have a higher chance to be rehabilitated without being influenced by the hardcore users.”
-- Bernama
