Aidi (second right) inspecting the seized items. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (June 14): A total of 41 individuals including 10 foreigners were arrested by the police for various drug offences, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail.
Speaking at a press conference at Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters here today, he said out of the total number of individuals arrested, 27 were male and the remaining 14 were female, aged between 18 and 42 years old.
He added that the individuals were apprehended during ‘Ops Parti Liar’ conducted by Sarawak Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) alongside Kuching District Police Headquarters NCID in Kuching and Padawan from May 29 until today, where the police had conducted a total of six raids.
He pointed out that the police also seized two ecstasy pills, 9.5 grammes of ketamine, three Erimin 5 pills and 409.65 grammes of pre-mixed juice powder laced with ecstasy – estimated to be worth around RM7,000.
“Since entertainment centres are not allowed to operated during the current Movement Control Order (MCO), the drug abuse trends have changed to the organisation of wild parties, held behind closed doors in residences to avoid detection from the authorities.
“However, the Sarawak Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) have identified several locations where the private parties are held,” he added.
Out of the total arrests, two cases were investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, three under Section 39A (2), three under Section 12(2) and 24 cases under Section 15(1)(a) of the same Act.
Aidi said the information obtained from ‘Ops Parti Liar’ has prompted the police to conduct another operation dubbed ‘Ops Black Cat’ on June 9 at an apartment here, where the police found a storage and processing area for the pre-mixed juice powder laced with ecstasy and ketamine.
During the raid, he said a local man aged 27 years old were arrested and the suspect is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He added that drugs worth at an estimate of RM250,000 were found during the raid, consisting of 50 ecstasy pills, 354.13 grammes of ketamine, 320 Erimin 5 pills and 13.7 kilogrammes of juice powder.
Such supplies could accommodate the demand of about 3,770 drug addicts, he said.
The suspect is currently remanded for seven days and the suspect himself has no prior criminal records.