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The Star/Asia News Network
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013
PETALING JAYA - Soon after setting up the Crime Prevention Department, Bukit Aman is stepping up its efforts in battling crime by forming a special squad to go after the "sharks" behind drug syndicates.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the squad, to be led by a commisioner, would be given special leeway to go after drug kingpins in the country.
"Their main task is to target drug kingpins.
"We want to hit the drug world where it hurts the most by apprehending the big-time players," Dr Ahmad Zahid said in an interview yesterday.
He revealed that the squad would have a wide area of jurisdiction and would have the authority to bypass district and state police.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said the ministry aimed to change the false perception that police corroborated with the underworld, especially drug syndicates.
"The personnel chosen for the squad are all well trained.
"They will be working separately from Bukit Aman's Narcotics Department," he said, adding that enforcement efforts against drug syndicates would be stepped up as well.
He added that the presumption that the big fishes often escaped the authorities would end through the squad's efficacy.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said the ministry was aware of criticisms that police only caught petty drug distributors and traffickers as well as addicts.
"We are being proactive in forming the squad.
"We already have a list of hot spots that will be targeted," he said.
While rehabilitation was a good effort to solve the drug problem, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the ministry aimed to tackle the matter at its source.
"With no suppliers or traffickers around, the demand for such drugs will lessen," he said.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said a nationwide narcotics operations began yesterday afternoon to nab drug pushers and addicts.
"The operations began on Friday afternoon in Klang Valley and will be an on-going initiative to rid the streets of these criminals," he told reporters after closing the IGP Ten-Pin Bowling Cup at Sri Petaling yesterday.
He said operations would be increased in phases, adding that the Narcotics Department would get help from other departments if necessary.
"We are not a manufacturing hub for drugs but some syndicates have taken advantage of our country to process these drugs before these are shipped out.
"Our aim is to eliminate the demand for the drugs as well as cripple the syndicates before they take root here," he said.