SOME 48 secondary school students in Sarawak were arrested by the authorities last year for various drug offences.

They were among the 11,470 people arrested statewide during operations.

That is an increase of more than 10 times compared to the year before.

That number is a sharp increase of 12.04% compared to the number of arrests for the previous year.

Sarawak One-Stop Action Committee Against Drugs and Substance Abuse released the figures in its latest report today.

In a statement, the committee said RM151 million worth of dangerous drugs were seized last year by the enforcement agencies.

It wants more awareness and education programmes at the school level, among youth organisations and social groups in residential and village levels.

Comprehensive efforts at all levels are crucial if the drug trafficking and drug abuse trends in this state are to be tackled effectively, the committee said.

On April 6, it was reported that an increasing number of young people aged 15 to 39 are getting hooked on drugs in Sarawak.

Dewan Negara president Datuk Mutang Tagal had said these youth are resorting to drugs at a worrying level.

“In Sarawak, the number of drug addicts are increasing by the year.

“Over the past five years, the number of drug addicts have doubled.

“Last year, 9,645 drug abuse cases were recorded in Sarawak.

“The biggest number are in the age bracket of 15 to 39.

“The police have also recorded an increase in the number of drug trafficking and drug dealing cases.

“10,365 arrests were made in last year alone,” he said at a function organised by the Kenosis Miri Drug Rehabilitation Centre managed by the Sidang Injil Borneo evangelical group in Miri. – April 10, 2024.