Latest news with #NationalAnti-DrugAgency
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
Two entertainment outlets shut down for operating without licences in KL
KUALA LUMPUR: Two entertainment outlets were ordered to shut down for operating without a licence during an integrated enforcement operation on Saturday. Dubbed Op KL Strike Force, the operation was jointly conducted by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the police, the National Anti-Drug Agency, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), and the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department. In a Facebook post, DBKL said checks revealed that one of the premises did not have a valid licence to operate entertainment activities, while the other was still in the process of applying for one. "Following the inspection, DBKL seized items used in the entertainment activities at the premises," the post read. According to the statement, 27 foreigners were detained by the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department during the same operation. Nineteen people were also detained by the National Anti-Drug Agency after they tested positive for drugs. "Jawi issued 10 notices to individuals requiring them to give statements under the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997," it added.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
Drug sweep in Pasir Mas: Two brothers among 19 arrested
PASIR MAS: Two brothers were among 19 people arrested during an integrated anti-drug operation targeting suspected drug hideouts in several villages here on Thursday. The operation, codenamed integrated Op Tapis, began at 10.30am and involved a team of 21 officers, comprising 15 policemen and six officers from the state National Anti-Drug Agency. Led by Assistant Superintendent Wan Ahmad Safwan Mohd Rosslan, the operation was carried out in areas around Bunut Susu, including Kampung Chegal, Kampung Manan, and Kampung Perangkap. Pasir Mas district police chief Assistant Commissioner Kama Azural Mohamed said some suspects attempted to flee and hide but were successfully detained by the raiding party. "It wasn't a simple operation. Some suspects bolted at the sight of officers, disappearing into the underbrush and even hiding behind chicken coops," he said. "Five of the 19 people arrested during the operation were found in possession of drugs. "Two of the suspects are brothers, believed to be active in the drug scene," he added. Kama Azural added that Pasir Mas remains a high-risk area for drug-related activities, particularly involving pil kuda(methamphetamine pills) and heroin. He said pil kuda is commonly sold for between RM5 and RM7 per pill, while heroin, typically packaged in small straws weighing 0.2g to 0.5g, is sold for between RM11 and RM12. The operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb drug-related activities in rural areas. All suspects are being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. "Similar operations will continue in the coming weeks," he said.
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Loan shark henchmen fined for paint attacks
JOHOR BARU: Two men linked to an illegal moneylending syndicate were fined for vandalising homes and vehicles with paint, in a spree tied to loan shark tactics. R. Sahswin, 25, and P. Yugendran, 31, pleaded guilty to mischief and faced multiple fines, including for drug use and criminal intimidation in three separate courts. Before Magistrate A Shaarmini, both men were fined RM4,500 each in default of 12 months' jail for splashing paint on a house gate in Jalan Jenawi 8, Taman Puteri Wangsa on May 1, causing over RM35 in damage. Separately, Sahswin was fined RM1,000 each by Magistrate Nabilah Nizam for defacing a house and a Honda City, incurring losses of RM35 and RM350 respectively. The acts took place in Jalan Lading 11 and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak on April 27 and May 1. Yugendran, meanwhile, was fined RM2,200 by Magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab for similar paint-vandalism on April 28 at Jalan Hang Jebat 4, Taman Skudai Baru, causing RM249.37 in damages. All offences were framed under Section 427 of the Penal Code, carrying a maximum five-year jail term, fine, or both. Sahswin also faced an additional charge under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation after allegedly threatening to set fire to a house using an anonymous written notice. The threat was made at along Jalan Jenawi 8 on May 9. The court allowed RM4,000 bail and set June 11 for mention. For a separate drug-related offence, both men admitted to self-administering dangerous drugs. Sahswin was fined RM2,500 or six months' jail, and Yugendran RM1,800 or six months' jail, with both ordered to undergo two years supervision by the National Anti-Drug Agency. They were charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Additionally, both men, along with a third suspect, S.K. Kiren, 24, claimed trial to possessing 20.04g of cannabis on May 14 in Jalan Inang 7, Taman Skudai Baru. They were jointly charged under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries up to five years' jail and nine strokes of the rotan. All three were granted bail of RM5,000 each with one surety. Deputy public prosecutors Nor Afiqah Musa and Nik Noratini Nik Azman conducted the prosecutions, while counsel V. Pushparajan represented the accused.
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Social activist calls on S'wak govt to intensify drug awareness, education
Voon Shiak Ni KUCHING (May 28): Social activist Voon Shiak Ni has urged the Sarawak government to take the lead in launching a dedicated annual two month-long drug awareness and education campaign to tackle the root of the growing drug problem in the state. She commended enforcement agencies and the Sarawak police for their firm stance and success in raid operations, citing recent large-scale raids in Miri that uncovered enough illicit substances to supply over 150,000 drug users, or nearly 5.8 per cent of Sarawak's population. However, she said despite high profile seizures and arrests, drug abuse were still rampant, citing a 30 per cent increase in drug addiction cases reported by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) in 2024. 'These numbers are not just statistics — they represent broken families, lost futures and growing despair. As an activist on the ground, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of drug abuse on marriages, children and the fabric of society,' she said in a statement. Voon welcomed the recent passing of the amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 2024, saying it marked an important policy shift from punishment to rehabilitation — a timely reform recognizing addiction as a health issue deserving of support and structured treatment. However, she emphasised policy reform must go beyond legislation. 'Our community and Sarawak must not abdicate their role. If Sarawak truly wants to break the drug cycle, we need to act decisively on the demand side of the equation, as drug dealing — as any other forms of business — thrives on a demand-driven supply chain,' she said. She said the campaign would target school children and youths across Sarawak, and can be implemented in collaboration with schools, the AADK, local councils, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community leaders. 'Education must be continuous, not a one-off event and should focus on real-life risks, the emotional toll on families, and the tactics used by traffickers to lure the young and vulnerable,' she said. Touching on public concerns regarding the amended law, Voon noted that while it allowed for non-custodial rehabilitation arrangements, it should not be seen as a 'free ride' for drug users. 'Compassion must be matched with responsibility. I call on the state government and stakeholders to ensure that rehabilitation is not a free pass, but a structured pathway where drug dependents contribute through community service, skill-building, and counselling. 'Only then can we repair not just individuals, but the families and communities broken by addiction,' she said. She pointed out that drug abuse destroys families, often leading to violence, neglect, divorce, and trauma in children, and also poses a wider threat to public safety. 'Rehabilitation must help individuals heal, but it must also rebuild their sense of accountability to society and to the families they've affected,' she added. She stressed that the amended Act also raised legitimate concerns about whether it could weaken efforts to deter initial drug use. 'Prevention is always better than a cure. I humbly urge the Sarawak government to take the lead to battle against the drugs by taking effective measures to deter and reduce the numbers of drug users to cripple the demand-driven supply chain,' she said. crime drug problems education lead Voon Shiak Ni
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
KL drug addict numbers drop nearly 14pct
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 5,800 individuals were identified as being involved in drug abuse in and around the capital during the first three months of this year, reflecting a 13.8 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year. National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said current statistics in Kuala Lumpur indicate a drug and substance abuse rate of 253 addicts per 100,000 population. "The main drug category of choice is amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), accounting for 65 per cent or 3,768 individuals from January to March this year," he said. He said this during the KL Car Free Morning programme in conjunction with the 2025 Anti-Drug Day at Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) square today. More than 1,000 participants took part in the five-kilometre run along the main roads around the capital. He added that the programme aimed to raise public awareness about the dangers of drugs by promoting the message that drug prevention is a shared responsibility in a relaxed, healthy, and inclusive manner. "In addition, this activity helps strengthen the community's role in drug prevention by encouraging involvement from urban residents, especially youth and families, to create a drug-free environment," he said. — BERNAMA
