Tackling drug issues remains Sarawak police’s priority in 2020 — CP

LIMBANG: Tackling the growing threat of drugs will continue to be focus of the police force this year.

According to Sarawak commissioner of police (CP) Datuk Ramli Din, cases associated with illegal drugs are becoming more serious and also more prevalent, not only in the urban areas but also throughout the rural areas.

“Last night ( Monday), there was a drug party in the peninsula, where some dignitaries were also involved,” he spoke during a dialogue with the local community leaders on Monday, held in conjunction with his working visit to the district police headquarters (IPD) here.

In this regard, Ramli noted that entertainment centres seemed to have become ‘popular ports’ for criminal activities like drug abuse and illegal gambling.

Moreover he said earlier this month, seven people were arrested in Miri and more than 9kg worth of drugs had been confiscated.

“Sarawak police have taken strict action and arrested 60 people at an entertainment outlet in Kuching, suspected of being involved in drug abuse,” he highlighted another case.

Under ‘Ops Blue Devil’, Ramli said 13 police personnel had been detained in connection with drug-related offences.

On illegal gambling, he said 76 raids against illegal gambling had been run across Sarawak, which included seizure of RM45,000.

“Fifty people were arrested in Sibu, as well as in other districts in Sarawak, in connection with cockfighting,” he added.

On a separate subject, Ramli said the Sarawak police’s approach with the community as stated in the slogan ‘Polis dan Masyarakat, Berpisah Tiada’ ( Police and the Community Will Never Be Apart), would continue to be upheld, especially in bringing the crime index down.

Regarding his visit here, the Sarawak police chief said it was vital for him to go to the ground and gain feedback from his men, so that followup action could be undertaken accordingly.

Ramli was accompanied by Sarawak Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK) head SAC Dato Muhamed Hasbullah Ali, Sarawak Police Contingent Management Department head SAC Norzanah Buang, Criminal Investigation Department Sarawak chief SAC Denis Leong, and IPD Limbang chief Supt Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad.