MORE than 3,500 police officers of various ranks have undergone urine checks under “Operation Blue Devil” to weed out cops involved in substance abuse, said Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd.

He said of the total, 103 tested positive for drug abuse.

The operation was launched on August 13 by the federal police headquarters with the help of the states’ narcotics divisions.

This was after Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had revealed that the country’s drug abuse problem had reached a dangerous level.

Khalil said before the operations, they had already screened police officers who were suspected to be involved in drugs.

“Even a week before the operation was launched, all staff and officers were informed about the checks, but within nine days, 103 officers still tested positive.

“Their samples were sent to the lab before they can be brought to court,” Khalil told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the majority of officers had tested positive for shabu, while six were caught for abusing amphetamine and opiate, two others for cannabis and one was for ketamine. 

Khalil said police officers who tested positive will be subjected to legal action just like any other drug user.

Asked about the time frame for the operations, Khalil said they would be carried out until the force is completely free of the drug menace.

He said Ops Blue Devil is also a two-pronged operation aimed at raiding drug-processing laboratories, distributors and drug dealers.

“Previously, we raided 296 hotspots across the country. This is also to disrupt the drug operations.

“We are also working to cut off the supply of drugs into the country, which is why we need the support of drug-free officers,” he said.

It was reported that Hamid was shocked at the number of officers abusing drugs, which he considered to be at a critical and serious stage.

“This time I took a holistic approach and decided to take action against police by launching Ops Blue Devil.

“If the officers are given the responsibility to enforce the law but end up involved in this activity, what will become of this country?

“The alarming figures show that the level of drug abuse in the country is already at a critical stage.

“Imagine what has happened in Latin America in the past (drug problems among law enforcement members). That is why comprehensive efforts must be taken to curb this,” the IGP had said. – August 21, 2019.