Rep surprised cops (@PDRMsia) unaware of drug peddling on cybernet

November 15, 2013 

SIBU: The police need to stay steps ahead of criminals who are employing sophisticated tools to commit crime, says Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He was reacting to news report that drug addicts could now get their supply (of drugs) by paying for them online and have the drugs delivered to them.

According to the report, the police believed they had uncovered this online supply line after the arrest of three teenage brothers last week for being hooked to ‘ice’, the street name for methamphetamine.

“Well, in this sophisticated world, I am not surprised that the ‘cybernet’ apart from being a tool for communication and gathering information, could be used for illegal transactions.

“In fact, we have heard of other vices like cyber gambling and prostitution being peddled through the cyberspace. So, drug peddling through the ‘cybernet’ is not something impossible.

“I am somewhat surprised that the police are shocked by this new revelation. They should not if they had kept themselves abreast with the development of Internet.

“The police, being the custodian of peace and security, must not rest on their laurel, but must be steps ahead of those who are criminal-minded,” Abdul Karim said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) president Jisin Nyud cautioned that in a borderless world, anything could happen at one’s doorstep.

He reckoned that eventually the beautiful technology would turn into social ills.

He, however, figured that the people, especially parents and the police, needed to intervene to keep the menace at bay.

“Parents need to teach their children how to control unwanted behaviour. More collaboration should be mooted and carried out between various agencies and schools.

“The government should look into this matter so that our new generation is taken care of,” said Jisin.

Addicts who had been out of rehab were encouraged to attend advanced courses in order to recall the impact of the drugs so that it would not cause them further problems, he said.