KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- A 61-year-old man with over 40 years of drug abuse history was among 128 people detained under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK)’s Op Perdana that was conducted simultaneously around the capital and Labuan last night.
AADK director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the man, who works as a contract labourer, has a history of being in and out of prison more than 10 times and has been sentenced to six strokes of the rotan for drug-related offences since his youth.
“He is married and his family lives in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He suffers from diabetes, but continues with his drug habit,” he said.
He said the case reflects the huge challenge faced by authorities in dealing with hardcore addicts, who have been dependent on drugs for decades, despite various treatment and rehabilitation efforts.
He added that the operation around the capital city involved 77 personnel, focusing on drug hotspots, including abandoned construction sites on Jalan Imbi and a nearby People’s Housing Project (PPR).
“A total of 112 people were detained in Kuala Lumpur and another 16 in Labuan. Preliminary screenings showed 77 of them tested positive for syabu, eight for ganja, five for benzodiazepine and the rest for heroin," he told a media conference after observing the operation yesterday.
Ruslin said those detained were Malaysians aged between 19 and 61, comprising 123 men and five women. Among them were long-term heroin users, aged 40 to 60, who have been dependent on drugs for a long time.
“Based on intelligence, the drug haunt in the Jalan Imbi area here is active from 6 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. Some are first-time users, while others are long-time addicts who have been in and out of rehabilitation centres,” he said.
He clarified that under the amended Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983, which will come into effect this year, even those who use drugs socially, like in nightclubs or concerts, may face action and be ordered to undergo treatment.
“Those who want to change will be given the opportunity to seek treatment at community centres, while hardcore addicts will be subject to a two-year detention order at rehabilitation centres,” he said.
Ruslin said a 14-day remand application will be made today for all those detained for further investigation, including laboratory confirmation tests.
He emphasised that such operations will be carried out nationwide until the end of this year.
-- BERNAMA
