64.5pct of 28k 'Ops Tapis' drug arrests this year were users

 

Police have arrested 28,710 individuals this year under their anti-drugs special operation dubbed "Ops Tapis Khas" (special screening operations) with 64.5 percent of them being drug users or addicts.

According to the police data released in a statement this morning, from January to December, 16,433 individuals (57.2 percent) were arrested under the operations for using drugs.

Another 2,102 (7.3 percent) of those arrested were users who were repeat offenders under Section 39(C) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

It is not clear what type of drugs those arrested were using.

Previously in November 2021, former law minister Azalina Othman Said revealed that 63 percent of prison inmates were locked up over minor drug offences - necessitating the need for drug law reforms.

Azalina Othman Said

Azalina has been reappointed to the law portfolio under the Anwar Ibrahim government, with additional duties for institutional reforms.

Drugs valued at RM19.8m seized

Meanwhile, under Ops Tapis Khas, 4,498 arrests (15.7 percent) were sellers, and 1,685 (5.9 percent) were on the wanted list.

Additionally, 848 arrests (2.9 percent) were made under the Dangerous Drugs Act (Special Preventive Measures) Act - which provides for detention without trial for those believed to be involved in drug trafficking.

A further 3,144 arrests (10.9 percent) were for unspecified other offences.

Police secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said in the statement that 2.2 tonnes of drugs and 4,966 litres of various drugs valued at RM19.8 million were seized in the operations.

Of the 28,710 arrests under Ops Tapis Khas thus far this year, 4,177 were arrested between Dec 6 and 8 during a sting on Felda, Felcra, low-cost public housing, jetties and drug dens.

Of those nabbed in the sting, 484 (11.6 percent) were sellers, 307 (7.3 percent) were wanted persons, 1,982 (47.5 percent) were users, and 1,404 (33.6 percent) were of other unspecified offences. - Mkini