KUALA LUMPUR: A 15-year-old girl was among 19 people detained by the Selangor National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) for testing positive for drugs at karaoke outlets in USJ 19 and Bandar Sunway, early this morning.
The raid on the outlets by 15 Nada officers, with the cooperation of 38 Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) enforcement officers, found that the individuals were high on methamphetamine and methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA).
Selangor Nada Enforcement and Safety division deputy director Mohd Firdaus Abu Bakar said those arrested were aged between 15 and 25, and comprised 17 males and two females.
He said all, including seven underage individuals, tested positive for various drugs.
“We started the operation at around midnight at two karaoke outlets in USJ 19, (then in) Subang Jaya and Bandar Sunway.
“At the karaoke outlet in USJ 19, 23 people were detained for urine tests. Of the number, 19 tested positive for drugs. Among them were teenagers who reside in the vicinity (Subang Jaya and USJ).
“Meanwhile, at the outlet in Bandar Sunway, we ran the same test on 10 individuals, two of whom tested positive for cannabis,” he told reporters after the operation.
Present was MPSJ deputy president, Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali.
Firdaus said all were detained under Section 3(1) of the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.
“We will obtain a remand order from the court for further action. We will seek an order so that they will go through rehabilitation with us, either within the institutions or with the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Zulkurnain said the karaoke outlet in USJ 19 did not have the proper licence to operate as an entertainment outlet.
He said MPSJ could take action against the owner under Section 6(1) of the Selangor Entertainment Enactment 1995 for running an entertainment business without a licence from the local government.
“The premise owner can be fined a maximum of RM25,000 over the offence.
“Checks via our system showed that the licence was revoked years ago after the outlet was found to be running illegal gambling activities.
“An inspection of the outlet also found many secret passages and entrances to cater to special customers,” he added.
Get the latest World Cup 2018 scores, highlights and updates from our dedicated news page, click here