POLICE have arrested 188 civil servants for various drug-related offences in the first four months of this year, Bukit Aman narcotics crime investigation department said today.

The unit posted a statement on Facebook that, of the total, four were detained under section 3(1) of the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985.

It said that the 188 civil servants were among 62,132 drug and poison arrests during that period, in addition to seizing various types of drugs, and ketum leaves and water worth RM213 million.

“During that period, the department also seized drugs weighing 7.9 tonnes, 1,400 litres of liquid drugs, 31.9 tonnes of ketum leaves and 21,243 litres of ketum water.

“The department also brought down 118 organised crime groups, issuing 366 arrests as well as exposing four drug labs and arresting four chemists.

“The department also confiscated various assets worth RM32.8 million, while RM2.7 million in assets were forfeited,” it added in the statement.

The department also said that 2,669 repeat offenders had been charged under section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, with 1,533 convictions.

The department said it opened 25,331 investigation papers and charged 22,753 people in court. – Bernama, May 4, 2023.