KUCHING: The Sarawak government has bolstered efforts to combat drug-related crimes in border areas by donating four four-wheel-drive vehicles, worth RM639,934.40, to the Narcotics Nucleus Secretariat (SNN). Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director, Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin, highlighted that the state government has also allocated a grant, worth RM1.7 million, to procure 19 Instant Visual Drug Detectors and two Handheld Backscatter units, significantly enhancing the operational capabilities of drug interdiction teams.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, 12 NCID positions have been added in 10 districts in the state, including Matu Daro, Simunjan, Meradong, Saratok, Lubok Antu, Julau, Dalat, Kanowit, Song, and Tatau. ‘The Public Service Department has approved a phased increase in NCID personnel, with priority deployment to Sarawak and Sabah,’ Khaw said in a statement, following his working visit to the General Operations Force (GOF) Brigade headquarters, today.

Discussions during
the visit also addressed border security issues between Sarawak and Sabah, emphasizing collaboration between the NCID and GOF, to combat narcotics crimes effectively. Khaw disclosed that from Jan 1 to Nov 30 this year, Sarawak NCID conducted operations leading to the arrest of 9,884 individuals involved in narcotics-related offences, with drug seizures exceeding RM37 million in value.