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Barnama
a day ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Ayob Khan: Handful Of Corrupt Officers Tarnish PDRM's Reputation
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay (second, left) received the PEMUISI Award after officiating the book 'Antologi Puisi Makan Suap' at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, last night. KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- The actions of a small number of police officers and personnel involved in corruption have tarnished the reputation of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), despite the majority performing their duties with integrity and dedication. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that corruption-related offences must be dealt with firmly, regardless of the rank of the individuals involved. Ayob Khan said he has never compromised with any officers or personnel involved in such offences during his tenure as Johor police chief, director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), and director of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 'In Johor, when I served as police chief, some officers and personnel were subjected to action under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA). At the NCID, officers with the ranks of Superintendent, ASP, and Inspector were placed under Special Preventive Measures,' he said. He said this to reporters after the launch of the book 'Antologi Puisi Makan Suap' at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) here last night. Also present were DBP director-general Dr Hazami Jahari and National Poets Association (PEMUISI) president Datuk Dr Radzuan Ibrahim. At the same time, Ayob Khan stressed that attempting to conceal corruption cases to protect the organisation's reputation would only allow such activities to fester and become harder to prevent. 'For the PDRM, we will not compromise. If I detect such cases, the first step is to refer major cases to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC); the second is to open an investigation paper, and the third is to initiate disciplinary proceedings,' he said. Meanwhile, in his speech at the book launch, Ayob Khan said he would continue to speak out, reprimand, and remind all PDRM officers and personnel about the disgraceful and humiliating nature of corrupt practices.
News18
16-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Kochi's Transition From Queen To Drug Queen Of Arabian Sea
Last Updated: In 2024, Kerala witnessed seizures of 24 kg of MDMA, 2 kg of heroin, and 4,500 kg of ganja The ancient Lord Shiva Temple at Ernakulam, which traces its origin to the Mahabharata era, faces westward, into the deep ocean, once known as Ratnakara, meaning 'trove of gems". This ocean was also known as Sindhu Sagar and is presently known as the Arabian Sea. From time immemorial, plundering pirates, proselytisers, explorers, travellers, traders, and merchants from distant Europe, Arabia, and China have been drawn to this land by its panoramic beauty and wealth. India's first Finance Minister, Mr RK Shanmukham Chetty (1947-48), famously dubbed Kochi the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. Sadly, the passage of time has witnessed the city's degradation into a hub for narcotic drugs of all kinds. Over 2,000 cases filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by the Ernakulam Rural Police in 2024 alone illustrate the gravity of the challenge facing the city. In 2024, Kerala witnessed seizures of 24 kg of MDMA, 2 kg of heroin, and 4,500 kg of ganja. In 2024-25, Ernakulam recorded the highest number of student drug-related cases. Kerala registered 27,701 cases under the NDPS Act in 2024, more than three times Punjab's 9,025 cases, despite Punjab traditionally being considered India's drug epicentre. Kerala has the highest rate of drug-related cases in India, with 78 cases per lakh people in 2024, compared to Punjab's 30. Over the past four years, Kerala registered 87,101 drug-related cases, a 130 per cent increase compared to the previous four-year period. Every district is affected. Thirty murders in the first two months of 2025 were linked to substance abuse – half of all murders in Kerala State. Alarmingly, data indicates a sharp rise in cases involving minors and first-time users, highlighting the severity of the situation. In just one week of 2025, between 22 February and 1 March, the special task force conducted 2,762 drug busts, arresting 2,854 suspects. The recreational drug MDMA tops the list of contraband seized in Kerala, alongside cocaine, LSD, hashish, brown sugar, and heroin. The party drug MDMA is experiencing a surge in popularity in Kerala. This stimulant, also known to cause hallucinations, goes by various street names – molly, ecstasy, X, and XTC. Seizures increased by over 65% in just one year, according to police and excise officials. In the first two months of 2025, 588 youths under 18 sought drug-related treatment at de-addiction centres across Kerala. Foreign predators are smuggling deadly drugs through Kochi. On 27 April 2025, in a major drug bust, the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) foiled an attempt to smuggle 5.5 kg of hybrid ganja through Kochi airport and arrested a Malappuram native scheduled to fly to Ras-Al-Khaimah in the UAE. On 20 March 2025, in a significant drug seizure, customs officers at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) arrested two women arriving from Bangkok with 15 kg of hybrid ganja, valued at approximately Rs 4.5 crore. Since July 2024, approximately 90 kg of hybrid ganja has been seized from Kochi airport alone. Many traffickers favour hybrid ganja smuggling due to the high profit margin. It is estimated that 1 kg of hybrid ganja can fetch Rs 1 crore in the international market. Demand is high in the Middle East, and Kerala serves as a major transit hub en route to Gulf countries. One kilogram of hybrid ganja is more expensive than the same quantity of MDMA, making it a preferred trade for traffickers. In May 2025, hybrid ganja worth over Rs 35 crore and 15 kg of chemical drugs mixed in chocolate, cake, and cream biscuits made in Thailand were seized from Calicut Karipur Airport. Three female traffickers were detained by customs. Data presented in the Rajya Sabha on 2 April 2025 paints a grim picture. According to statistics, drug seizures in Kerala between 2018 and 2022 more than tripled, increasing sharply from 1,378.337 kg in 2018 to 5,639.273 kg in 2022. Kochi, ranked sixth among India's best tourist destinations by Outlook Traveller Magazine, is known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. However, its growing reputation as a drug destination is tarnishing its image. A major source of drugs is the substantial migrant labour force, estimated in the lakhs, who see drug selling as an opportunity for easy money. Drugs are entering from as far afield as Myanmar and Assam. Despite widespread operations by law-enforcement agencies to curb drug trafficking and use, there is a growing trend of drug gangs targeting children with narcotics-laced chocolates, sweets, and beverages. There have been reports of gang members stalking schoolchildren, including girls, with romantic advances at strategic locations, such as bus stands and waiting areas, to lure them. The gravity of the issue came to light after a four-year-old boy in Manarcad, Kottayam, reportedly consumed chocolate spiked with intoxicants at his school. Parents are resorting to purchasing drug test kits to monitor their children. The crisis, especially concerning synthetic drugs, has become so severe that the Kerala State Assembly recently dedicated an entire day to a special session to discuss the escalating drug menace. The pathetically low conviction rate in NDPS cases is deeply disturbing. Central government data presented in the Rajya Sabha on 12 March 2025 reveals that only two convictions were recorded in Kerala between 2022 and 2024. Alarmed by this situation, anti-drug pledges are now commonplace in schools, political rallies, community gatherings, and even religious discourses. However, the challenge lies in making the judiciary understand that drug crimes against youth and children are heinous offences that can silently destroy generations. Instead of focusing on technicalities and minor lapses, courts need to adopt a broader perspective. A review of many judgements reveals that most cases are lost by enforcement agencies on grounds such as procedural lapses, illegal searches, hostile witnesses, incorrect inventory preparation, failure to conduct test identification parades, inadmissible evidence, delays in sending samples to forensic laboratories, inconclusive forensic reports, and failure to produce the accused before a magistrate or gazetted officer. Escaping punishment on technicalities appears to be the norm. Enforcement agencies are also culpable for careless and nonchalant investigations. Inadequate training, poor legal knowledge of rules and procedures, and insufficient supervision contribute to the current state of affairs. The situation could be improved by establishing a central legal control room staffed by legal experts in the NDPS Act, its rules, and the latest judgements of the High Courts and the Supreme Court. Upon detection of a case, the legal control room would provide step-by-step guidance on processing the case file in strict accordance with the law. A legal audit of the proceedings would then be conducted to rectify any defects before filing the case in court. This system should be adopted by every investigating agency. In Kerala today, more young people are abusing drugs than at any other time in history. It has been argued that if this trend continues for the next 10 years, the coastal region will lose an entire generation. In a recent case decided on 5 March 2025 (Chandrabhan Janardhan Yadav v. State of Maharashtra, 2025 SCC Online Bom 462, decided on 04-03-2025), the Bombay High Court labelled drug addiction a 'quasi-pandemic' and called for strict adherence to legal procedures in arrests. Justice Milind Jadhav underscored the importance of balancing national interests against the rights of the accused. He highlighted the global prevalence of drug abuse and the significant challenges it poses to society. He also acknowledged the difficulties faced by prosecutors in defending cases marred by procedural lapses. top videos View all Justice Jadhav's ruling directed all police commissioners and superintendents in the state to stringently enforce the provisions of the NDPS Act and associated rules. He referenced a 2024 communication from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to all state governments concerning the model FIR for registration of NDPS cases, emphasising the need for precise legal adherence. He called for enhanced training and education for statutory officers to ensure they exercise their powers judiciously and lawfully, expressing hope that strict implementation of laws and rules would significantly contribute to curbing drug-related offences and fostering a drug-free society. The writer is Former Director General, Multi-Disciplinary School of Economic Intelligence, and National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : Drug Trafficker drugs kerala Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 16, 2025, 13:40 IST News opinion Opinion | Kochi's Transition From Queen To Drug Queen Of Arabian Sea
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gland Pharma shares in focus after subsidiary Cenexi gets 11 observations from French regulator
Gland Pharma shares will be in focus on Thursday after the company announced that its material subsidiary, Cenexi, received 11 observations from France's drug regulator, Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM), following a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) inspection at its Fontenay manufacturing facility. In a stock exchange filing, Gland Pharma stated: 'The ANSM, France, has issued its final report citing 11 observations pursuant to the GMP inspection of Cenexi's Fontenay manufacturing facility conducted between December 9 and December 19, 2024.' In response, Cenexi has submitted a Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) plan, outlining measures to be implemented over a 3- to 12-month period, depending on the nature of each observation. The plan has been accepted by ANSM. Also Read: MRF snatches India's highest-priced stock crown back from Elcid Investments Live Events The company clarified that the observations will not impact manufacturing operations at the Fontenay site. Gland Pharma added that Cenexi is committed to resolving the issues in coordination with the French regulator and will continue to update stock exchanges on further developments. Also Read: These 10 Nifty microcap stocks can rally 70-200% in the next 12 months Gland Pharma Share Price Target and Performance According to Trendlyne, the average target price for Gland Pharma is Rs 1,678, implying a potential upside of 3% from current levels. Of the 12 analysts tracking the stock, the consensus rating is 'Hold'. On Wednesday, Gland Pharma shares closed 1.88% higher at Rs 1,623.7 on the BSE, while the Sensex gained 0.32%. The stock has rallied 16% in the last one month but remains down 43% over the past three years. The company's market capitalisation stands at Rs 26,751 crore. Also Read: Ola Electric, Kalyan Jewellers among 10 firms where promoters pledge increased in Q4 ( Disclaimer : Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Trump budget proposes drastic cuts for US scientific research
WASHINGTON: The White House wants to reduce US health spending by more than a quarter next year, with the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facing the brunt of billions of dollars in cuts. President Donald Trump's administration on Friday proposed a US$163 billion cut to the federal budget that would sharply reduce spending in areas including health, education, and housing next year, while increasing outlays for defense and border security. The proposed budget requests US$93.8 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services - a cut of US$33.3 billion, or 26.2 per cent - from this year's budget of US$127 billion. It includes a cut of US$18 billion, or 40 per cent of the money allocated to the NIH, leaving it with US$27 billion. The Trump administration wants to cut funding altogether for four of the agency's 27 institutes and centers while consolidating others into five new ones. A total of almost US$1 billion would be eliminated for the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities, Fogarty International Center, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and National Institute of Nursing Research. Some of the NIH's remaining institutes and centers would be consolidated under five new ones: the National Institute on Body Systems Research, National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Disability Related Research, and National Institute on Behavioral Health. Cutting NIH funding threatens research into cures for serious diseases, puts lives at risk, and delays diagnoses, treatments and cures, said George Vradenburg, chairman of UsAgainstAlzheimer, patient advocacy group. 'WHOLESALE GUTTING' The proposal almost halves the CDC budget by almost US$3.6 billion, leaving it with a US$4 billion budget. It proposes merging various programs tackling infectious diseases, opioids, sexually transmitted infections and other areas into one grant program funded at US$300 million. It calls for eliminating programs it described as "duplicative" or "simply unnecessary" like the National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion, National Center for Environmental Health, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Global Health Center, Public Health Preparedness and Response, and Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant. The administration did not propose cuts at the Food and Drug Administration. It proposed $674 million in cuts at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services but said benefits would not be affected. The cuts follow a plan announced in March by Secretary for Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeking to reshape federal public health agencies by cutting 10,000 employees and centralizing some functions of the FDA, CDC and others under his purview. The job cuts include 3,500 at the FDA, 2,400 at the CDC, and 1,200 at the NIH. "This isn't a reorganization; it's a wholesale gutting of programs that save lives and reduce healthcare costs for all of us. Eliminating these efforts would reverse decades of progress," former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said of the proposed budget.
CNN
03-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
Carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected in several traveler deaths. Here's how to stay safe on your next trip
Carbon monoxide, often called the 'silent killer,' has no taste, odor or color, yet prolonged inhalation of the invisible gas has been tied to the recent deaths of several American tourists traveling abroad. In March, 14-year-old Miller Gardner, son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner, died on a family vacation at a Costa Rica beach resort. A month prior, three American women were discovered dead in their Belize hotel room. In both cases, authorities have said carbon monoxide poisoning caused the deaths. While many homes in the U.S. are equipped with alarms that detect the presence of the dangerous gas, travelers may need to take extra precautions to limit their exposure on the road. Carbon monoxide is produced when natural gas is burned in appliances like boilers, pool heaters, gas stoves, fireplaces and dryers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 'Every carbon monoxide producing appliance is designed to take those toxic fuels out of the building,' said Charon McNabb, founder of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Foundation. Without regular maintenance, McNabb said venting systems can corrode or shift, creating leak pathways for carbon monoxide to remain trapped indoors. The gas is then capable of traveling into nearby rooms through drywall, doors and air ducts. A buildup of carbon monoxide in the air can diminish your ability to absorb oxygen, resulting in serious or fatal tissue damage to the brain, heart and muscles. According to a 2019 study published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports, 905 U.S. lodging guests were poisoned by carbon monoxide from 2005 to 2018, resulting in 22 deaths. In the U.S., requirements for carbon monoxide detectors in homes and hotels differ by state, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. While vacation rental platforms like VRBO and Airbnb only require listed units to meet local regulations, owners can indicate whether a carbon monoxide alarm is present on the property within their listings. McNabb advises travelers booking accommodations to call ahead of their stay to check for the presence of detectors in each guest room and ask about the location of their room within the building. 'Travelers may want to stay away from (rooms next to) pools and pool heaters because typically, the chemicals for the pools are kept in the mechanical room where the heater is stored, and those chemicals can corrode the metal much quicker, creating leak paths,' McNabb said, adding that rooms on higher floors can also provide a safer distance from gas-powered yard equipment. 'If you're not totally confident in the answers you get, play it safe and bring your own (carbon monoxide) alarm,' McNabb said. Portable alarms are battery or outlet powered, pocket-sized devices capable of monitoring CO levels and alerting the user of unsafe levels. TSA permits travelling with carbon monoxide alarms, but lithium batteries should be taken out of the device and placed in carry-on luggage. Kos Galatsis, CEO of Forensics Detectors, which sells air quality monitoring devices, suggests travelers keep the alarm by their bedside, as many poisonings occur while stationary or sleeping. Prices for portable CO alarms online range drastically, but the most important feature to look out for is a UL 2034 certification, which designates the device is in line with national product safety standards. Campers should avoid using portable gas stoves, gas-powered lanterns, power generators and flameless chemical heaters inside of tents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This is especially important when camping in high altitudes, where the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is increased. Tents should also be pitched away from idling vehicles and campfire, according to the CPSC. Initial symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure can easily be mistaken for the flu, jet lag or stomach bugs. Signs of poisoning, according to Mayo Clinic, include: - Dull headache - Weakness - Dizziness - Nausea or vomiting - Shortness of breath - Confusion - Blurred vision - Loss of consciousness High levels of exposure can cause symptoms such as mental confusion and loss of muscle control to develop more rapidly. If you or fellow travelers experience any of these symptoms, seek fresh air and medical advice immediately.
