694 drug abuse suspects arrested in Papar

PAPAR: Police have arrested 694 people for drug activities in the first 11 months of this year in Papar.

District police chief DSP Batholomew Ak Umpit said two of the 694 suspects were investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the death sentence, while 25 people were charged with drug possession under Section 39A(1) of the same act.

“A total of 527 people were charged under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 when their urine came back positive of drug abuse,” he told a press conference at the Papar police headquarters yesterday.

The police have seized 375.70 grams of syabu and 10.83 grams of cannabis, said Batholomew, adding that 616 of 694 arrested were locals while the rest were foreigners between 12 and 55 years old.

Meanwhile, police in Papar also carried out 42 illegal gambling raids in the first 11 months of this year.

Batholomew said among the raids conducted were on 13 online gambling and 25 unlicensed lottery outlets.

“Forty men and 22 women, between 17 and 40 years old, have been detained for investigations under the Common Gaming House Act 1953 and Public Entertainment Ordinance 1958,” he said, adding that 51 handphones, 28 portable printers, one computer and RM19,767 cash were seized for investigation.