Kuala Lumpur: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is now leveraging drug residue analysis in sewage systems to detect the presence of drug laboratories in any particular area. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay stated that this approach could also identify new types of drugs being used in the country and determine whether they originate domestically or from abroad.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this initiative is still in its early stage. Through this method, authorities can identify the residential area involved and then follow up with the intelligence division to locate the drug laboratory. Ayob Khan emphasized that this method would be a tremendous help as it provides targeted data, enabling more streamlined follow-up actions, including operations.
Ayob Khan reported that so far, sewage water analysis in Lembah Subang has successfully detected the presence of Methamphetamine and a new drug known as Fentanyl, indicating the potential existence of drug-processing laboratories in the area. However, samples have only been collected from Klang Valley and Johor, with plans to expand nationwide.
Elaborating on the feasibility of this approach, Ayob Khan attributed its success to collaborative efforts in forensic science between the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) since 2022. This partnership focuses on scientific research concerning prohibited substances and efforts to curb illegal drug production within the country.
Through this collaboration, which secured RM 8.4 million in funding from the Home Ministry (KDN), six work packages have been outlined to cover technology development, research, forensics, data management, and capacity building. As of now, RM2.4 million has been disbursed towards these efforts.
Ayob Khan also highlighted that the use of the Tims-tof device significantly enhances drug detection efficiency in urine samples, reducing the process time from two days to just 20 seconds. This technology enables the identification of a wider range of chemical substances, including over 1,000 compounds listed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The tested samples revealed 57 different types of drugs in a single sample, showcasing the range of chemical substances used in drug production.
Efforts are underway to incorporate new substances into the schedules under the Poisons Act 1952 to streamline prosecution tasks, Ayob Khan added.