Pubdate: Wed, 19 Oct 2005
Source: Daily Express (Malaysia)
Copyright: 2005 Daily Express
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Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3635
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

5-FOLD JUMP IN SYABU SEIZURES

Kota Kinabalu: Syabu seizures increased by a staggering 343.2 per
cent this year with over 15,413gms seized till September.

A total of 3,477.64gms were seized over the same period last year,
State Commissioner of Police, Datuk Mangsor Ismail, said this had to
do with the seizure of eight kgs of Syabu that was about to be sent
through a courier service company in September.

He also disclosed that fewer addicts were arrested this year with
4,385 detained till September compared to 4,446 previously.

He said 49 people were arrested under drug preventive laws compared to
last year's 45. Those arrested have been banished either to Simpang
Renggam, Muar or Batu Gajah.

Mangsor disclosed that marine police also solved a total of 90 cases
from January to October this year involving seizures of Syabu at sea
weighing about 236.42gms and 80 people, mostly Filipinos and
Indonesians who encroached into Sabah's waters, were detained.

Police are able to establish whether drugs were brought into the State
in large quantities through prices on the street, he pointed out.

"If the street price of Syabu suddenly goes down, then it is an
indication that there is a bigger supply coming in.

"If suddenly it gets expensive, it is either there is a short of
supply or bigger demand," he disclosed, adding a deck or 0.5gms can
fetch up to RM50.

"We have identified the districts facing drug problems and we have
also found out that the problem coincides with the presence of illegal
immigrants," Mangsor said.

He said among the districts identified are Lahad Datu, Semporna, Tawau
and Sandakan.

The Syabu is smuggled in from southern Philippines.

In other developments, the implementation of sea lanes has enabled
marine police to monitor more effectively incoming boats and detect
those travelling illegally, he said.

"Vessels travelling outside the designated routes or gazetted sea
lanes without the proper documents are considered illegal," he said.

Mangsor disclosed that there are five sea lanes surrounding the
State's waters, adding attention is given to the eastern coastlines,
which is from Kudat all the way to Semporna.

On piracy, he said police presence on numerous island resorts in the
State has been beefed up as well as at the designated deep fishing
spots.

"Tugboat operators are now more cooperative as they inform us more
about their activities and time of travel. So we can send an escort
when they pass through that route." He added a team to counter any
possibilities of disturbance at sea is also on standby.
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