Update on drug abuse situation and offences in Sarawak from January to October 2023

A total of 9,198 arrests for drug offences have been recorded in Sarawak from January to October 2023. I have revealed this matter based on statistics from the police’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN), majority or 6,871 of the arrests were made following urine tests while 1,853 were for possession of drugs and 474 for supplying drugs. 

In terms of value of confiscated drugs, he said it was estimated to be more than RM137 million while the assets forfeited are valued at about RM5 million. The figures mentioned might look big, partly because our population is increasing.If you compare the 9,000 arrests to the 2.8 million population in Sarawak, it is very small. 

In terms of index of those involved in drugs throughout Malaysia, Sarawak is among the third lowest (in terms of numbers). Despite Sarawak being almost as big as the Peninsula and our borders are so porous be it from sea or land our index is still very low. I have informed our media friends during the press conference after chairing the Sarawak-level Anti Drug Action Council (MTMD) meeting recently. 

Even though there had been major arrests made, the drugs involved were not for local distribution because Sarawak is being used as transit for distribution to neighbouring countries. We do not need to be so alarmed but it is good to be conscious about that. 

Being the Sarawak chapter chairman of Malaysia Drugs Prevention Association (Pemadam), I have also mentioned two areas, namely Kampung Haji Baki in Kuching and Kampung Baru in Samarahan which were identified as high-risk areas this year for drug-related activities. As such, various activities are being held to ‘greenify’ the two areas. 

These areas have achieved green status based on the set indicators achieved. However, continuous efforts are being intensified so that this green status can be maintained through the collaboration of all parties through the strategies of prevention, enforcement and treatment programmes as well as recovery. 

Among them are preventing new addicts, maintaining the recovery rate, increasing the detection of drug addicts, increasing the cooperation and involvement of agencies and communities in blocking the entry of drugs. Also present at the press conference were National AntiDrug Agency (AADK) deputy director-general (Operations) Khairul Anuar Bachok, AADK Sarawak director Hemediee Ibrahim, and Director of Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Samuel Simon.