Highest Drug Arrests In A Decade Recorded Under Sarawak OSC MIDS
KUCHING: Sarawak recorded its highest number of drug-related arrests in the past 10 years, reflecting intensified enforcement and early intervention efforts under the One Stop Committee Menangani Isu Dadah dan Substance (OSC MIDS).
The development was highlighted by Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, during a media conference following the State-Level OSC MIDS Meeting held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Friday.
Dato Sri Fatimah said statistics presented during the meeting showed 632 drug traffickers arrested, involving 2,387 possession cases and 9,703 drug users, marking the highest arrest figures recorded over the last decade.
“Although the increase in arrests may appear worrying, it is actually a positive development because it allows us to take further action and intervene early, rather than leaving the problem hidden within the community,” she said.
She explained that enforcement operations carried out under OSC MIDS also resulted in significant drug seizures, which played a critical role in cutting off supply chains and limiting further drug circulation.
Dato Sri Fatimah said the impact of these seizures was estimated to have prevented 763,861 instances of drug use and saved 27,578 individuals from continued drug abuse.
She stressed that the OSC MIDS approach does not focus solely on enforcement, but places equal emphasis on rehabilitation and recovery, ensuring individuals apprehended can be channelled into appropriate treatment and intervention programmes.
“This is our success story. Enforcement allows us to identify those involved early, so that rehabilitation and recovery processes can be carried out effectively,” she said.
Dato Sri Fatimah called on all stakeholders, including communities and families, to continue working together with authorities to curb drug and substance abuse, emphasising that prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation must move forward hand in hand to safeguard community wellbeing in Sarawak.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) Sarawak Director Abdul Hamediee Ibrahim, and Sarawak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Ab. -UKASnews
