KUALA LUMPUR: Police have dismantled 193 drug syndicates in the country between January and September this year, resulting in the arrest of 612 members.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said this was a decline compared with 245 syndicates and 791 members arrested during the same period last year.
"Five drug syndicates were dismantled in the Klang Valley, Johor and Kelantan between Oct 1 and 12," he said at the force's monthly assembly today.
He said 13 syndicate members were arrested, and a total of 1,418 kg of drugs worth RM75 million were seized.
Razarudin said drug trafficking in Malaysia had evolved over the years — from traditional substances such as opium, marijuana and heroin in the 1960s to the trend of synthetic drugs like amphetamines, methamphetamines and psychotropics from the 1990s onwards.
"As the focal point that is responsible for combating drug abuse and trafficking, the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department must remain vigilant and proactive, staying informed of the latest global drug trends that are more cunning and complex," he said.
In a separate matter, Razarudin announced that officers from the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department would be deployed to 13 police districts in Sarawak, which currently lack dedicated narcotics units.
He said the effort to combat drug abuse had received support from the Sarawak government.
"I hope the deployment of the officers will be carried out soon, especially with Indonesia preparing to relocate its capital to Kalimantan," he added.