PUTRAJAYA, Aug 18 — The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) has identified 23,317 suspected drug addicts through surveillance by its fleet of 18 drones, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

He said the drones had enhanced AADK’s enforcement capabilities by allowing the agency to monitor drug hotspots around the clock, including through night flights.

“The drone units are able to conduct flights at night to detect those involved.

“As a result, we have a total of 23,317 people on the list of suspects. Through drone monitoring, the data is sent to the operations room, so we carry out enforcement and, as a result, we are able to detain a number of people involved,” he said at a press conference after an MoU exchange ceremony here.

Saifuddin said information gathered through drone surveillance was channelled to AADK’s operations room, where it was analysed and used to guide enforcement action.

He said the deployment of the drones was part of AADK’s strategic plan for the period from 2026 to 2030.

This plan will serve as the basis for how AADK will operate in carrying out its functions in prevention, enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation.

Saifuddin said the agency had also mapped drug hotspots where signs of drug abuse had been detected, allowing surveillance to be focused on areas identified as high-risk.