Foreign student forced to rebook ride after e-hailing driver detained for drugs

 

Selangor Road Transport Department (RTD) director Azrin Borhan said drug screening conducted by the Anti-Drugs Agency on 45 individuals found eight men to be positive for methamphetamine and cannabis. — NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS

KAJANG: A university student from India was left shaken after her e-hailing driver was arrested midway through her journey after testing positive for drugs.

The woman, in her 20s, said she had booked an e-hailing car to return home from a sports event in Bukit Jalil last night. As the vehicle approached the Sungai Ramal Toll Plaza, she noticed the driver becoming visibly restless.

"The driver suddenly began acting worried and suspicious when he realised there was a roadblock.

"He was stuttering and sweating when officers checked his details. Personnel from the National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) then instructed him to undergo a urine test and later informed me that he had been detained," she told reporters.

She said it was the first time she had experienced such an incident.

"I initially wanted a friend to drive me, but decided to take an e-hailing ride instead. I never expected this to happen," she said.

She later had to rebook another e-hailing service to reach her destination.

Meanwhile, the 47-year-old driver, who declined to be named, claimed he had tried to quit drugs several times after first becoming involved in 2021.

"At first, I only took drugs for fun. A friend gave them to me.

"My wife knows that I take drugs, and this is my first time getting caught," said the father of two when met by reporters at the operation site on Thursday.

He was later detained by Nada officers who were involved in the operation.

Selangor Road Transport Department (RTD) director Azrin Borhan said drug screenings conducted by the agency on 45 individuals found eight men to be positive for methamphetamine and cannabis.

He said the operation also resulted in enforcement action against 301 vehicles, with a total of 422 notices issued for 637 offences following inspections of 2,185 vehicles.

"These notices included summonses, prohibitions on vehicle use, inspection directives, vehicle detentions and weighing orders," he said.

Azrin said officers detected 230 cases involving drivers without a valid competent driving licence, 102 cases of expired motor vehicle licences and 98 cases of vehicles without insurance coverage.

A total of 16 vehicles – three cars and 13 motorcycles – were also seized, he said. - NST