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Federal Narcotics Department director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim says most of the traffickers are from West African countries.
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KUALA LUMPUR: Enforcement agencies have stopped RM228 million worth of drugs from reaching our streets this year.
The drugs -- syabu, ketamine and heroin -- were mostly seized at airports and other entry points into the country, said Federal Narcotics Department director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim yesterday.
The amount of heroin seized until Oct 18 this year increased a whopping 89 per cent compared with the same period last year.
"Drug syndicates will usually use airports as the entry points to bring in the drugs," he said.
Police also arrested 119 suspected traffickers, mostly foreigners, at the five international airports in the country.
"Most of these traffickers are drug mules from Western African countries, but Iranians made up the highest number of those arrested."
In the last three weeks, 24 suspects have been arrested for drug trafficking.
More than 56kg of drugs were seized by police during the arrests.
On Oct 9, a Nigerian and an Indian were arrested separately after they were found with more than 10kg of syabu, valued at RM2.14 million.
It was reported that the country was being used as a transit point before the drugs were smuggled into other countries, including Australia.
Noor Rashid said police were keeping watch over the country's land and sea entry points.
This year, 132,851 people have been arrested for various drug offences, an increase of three per cent from last year.
"We will continue to improve enforcement, intelligence and international co-operation towards clamping down on traffickers."
SUMBER : NST Online