KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 —The Cabinet Committee on Eradication of Drugs yesterday discussed new approaches to tackling drug-related problems, effectiveness of enforcement programmes, and setting up of integrated schools at National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) rehabilitation centres.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chaired the meeting at the Parliament building here, said the approaches were aimed at reducing drug-related problems as well as empowering and educating the public on drug awareness.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Affairs Minister, said the community empowerment programme (CEP) implemented by National Anti-Drugs Agency had sparked a government initiative through the National Blues Ocean Strategy (NBOS), known as the Community Rehabilitation Programme for Drug Addicts (CRPD).
He said efforts to get families and communities together to combat drug problems were in line with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, which is an initiative at the international level.
The committee also discussed six working papers and two notices related to the drug problem.
Ahmad Zahid said that from 2014 to last month, there had been 702,319 arrests of drug traffickers, pushers and addicts.
“Of this, 21,771 had been arrested under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty” he said.
“Under the same section, 68 drug kingpins were arrested. We also nabbed 27,914 foreigners.”
Ahmad Zahid said the total value of properties belonging to drug traffickers seized was RM346 million.
“Police also raided 105 drug laboratories and arrested 409 lab operators,” he said.
“We have categorised the labs according to the type of drugs produced, which were 32 labs for syabu, 50 for heroin, 21 for ecstasy pills, and two for Erimin 5.”
The two-hour meeting was attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa, Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, and representatives from agencies and NGOs.
