551 drug suspects arrested in Penampang

PENAMPANG: The Penampang District Police Headquarters conducted 923 narcotics operations from January till August and arrested 551 individuals for drug offences.

Of the 923 operations, 871 were classified under Ops Tapis and 52 under Ops Sarang, according to Penampang District Chief of Police DSP Mohd Haris Ibrahim.

“From January to August this year, 551 arrests were made in which 24 cases were under drug supply, 193 cases for drug possession and 334 more where the urine of individuals tested positive for drugs.

“The drugs confiscated were syabu, marijuana, ketamine and ecstasy, with syabu recording the highest amount at 155.13 grammes. Meanwhile, ketamine, marijuana and ecstasy each recorded 4.28 grammes, 3.78 grammes and 1.15 grammes. They are estimated to be worth RM23,269.50 in total,” said Haris.

According to police investigation, drug cases were most prevalent in the Kota Kinabalu city centre and Putatan, with Penampang as a “transit” point.

Haris added that Penampang police had also opened 76 investigating papers on gambling offences from January to August.

He broke the cases down into 62 involving illegal four digit gambling, 13 cases involving online operated games and one more “ketam-ketam” gambling case.

Individuals arrested comprised 51 men and 40 women, with confiscated cash amounting to RM18,560.

“Of the investigating papers opened, 60 percent were brought to court and have received punishment. The individuals arrested were between 30 and 60 years old and were mostly gambling agents,” said Haris.