KOTA KINABALU: Police will
focus on efforts to eradicate drug smuggling and trafficking activities in
water villages, especially in Sabah and Sarawak. Narcotic Crime Investigation
Department Director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said it is aimed at busting
small-time drug dealers who are actively operating in these areas.
"There are a number of
water villages in the State here and these are the hot spot locations, even in
Brunei Darussalam, that we have identified to address the problem, effectively.
"These small-time
dealers have the upper hand in the water villages as they are very familiar
with the alleys and routes which enable them to easily escape police and arrest
during our raids.
"In fact, they even
know how to run away from police using the furthest corners of the roads in the
area," he said, adding the police will initially use their own approaches
before conducting integrated operations with other law enforcement.
Noor Rashid said this at a
press conference after witnessing a police parade to mark the completion of
police basic training for constables in Kepayan here, Saturday.
A total of 247 police
personnel completed the basic training to become policemen. Also present were Sabah
Police Management Department head, SAC Noor Azam Jamaludin and Kota Kinabalu
Police Training Centre (Pulapol) Commandant, Supt. Mohd Azhar Hamin.
Hazzuan Tumiran who has a
diploma in mechanical engineering was selected as the overall best trainee while
the best academic trainee award went to Raymond Thanny Anak Ninkan who has a
degree in Business Management from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and
Muhammad Syahir Mohammad Khamis emerged as the best trainee for outdoor
training category.
Noor Rashid said the police
is focussing on eliminating drug trafficking activities in these areas so as to
reduce demand as well as buyers.
"We can address this
social problem provided the public render full cooperation in channeling vital
information and tip-offs in regards to the illegal activities.
"As a matter of fact,
two-way communication between us and the society is the key to police success
in making drug busts," he said.
To a question, he said drug
trafficking activities by the small-time dealers are significant and a problem
to the society, however, it is still under control.
On latest police statistics
on drug seizure and arrests, Noor Rashid, who did not elaborate, said the
police recorded an increase of six per cent in this aspect this year.
He said cooperation from
Customs, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has enabled the police to cripple many drug smuggling
attempts, especially through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
On latest tactics used by
drug smugglers, he said this includes bringing in the substance by passing
through roads from Thailand including near the borders at Bukit Kayu Hitam and
Rantau Panjang in Kelantan.
On Friday, Noor Rashid said
a Nigerian who came as a student was arrested for attempting to create a drug
network not only in Kuala Lumpur, but also in other states in the peninsula.
(DE)
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