Pubdate: Mon, 22 Jun 2009
Source: Star, The (Malaysia)
Copyright: 2009 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com.my
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/922
Author: Allison Lai

ANTI-DRUGS SWOOP TURNS UGLY

JASIN: A National Anti-Drugs Agency operation to screen  suspected
drug addicts in Kampung Serkam Pantai here  early yesterday morning
turned ugly when more than 100  villagers tried to stop youths from
being picked up for  urine tests.

At 1am, about 20 officers accompanied by several Rela  members swooped
in on several youths loitering at a  suspected drug haunt in the village.

The officers questioned some 10 youths, in their early  20s, and
demanded to see their identity cards.

However, a commotion broke out when they were asked to  board a truck
to take them to the agency's office in  Ayer Keroh to undergo urine
tests.

An argument ensued and before long a large group of  villagers joined
in the commotion.

The tension was defused when Serkam state assemblyman  Ghazale Mohamad
arrived to calm the situation.

State agency director Ibrahim Bujang said the operation  had been set
up following reports from the villagers  that drug addiction could be
a problem among youths in  the village.

"We carried out surveillance here for a month and  identified four
areas in the village used by suspected  drugs addicts.

"We picked up 26 youths, aged between 20 and 35, for  urine tests but
none of them tested positive for drug  abuse," he told reporters after
the operations ended at  about 2am.

As to the fiasco at the village, he said it was a  misunderstanding
because the villagers were unaware the  agency was empowered under the
National Anti-Drugs  Agency Act 2004 (which came into effect in 2007)
and  the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act  1983 to
pick up suspected drug addicts for urine tests.

Although no suspect tested positive, Ibrahim did not  regard the
operation as a failure.

"What is important is that we get the message across to  the public,
especially villagers here, that we have the  power to act and will
continue to monitor their  activities," he added.

In the last six months, the agency picked up 78 drugs  addicts from
Serkam and its surrounding villages, he  said, adding that to date 62
from Serkam had been  charged with drug-related offences.
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