PETALING JAYA: The police are concerned over the increasing use of the potent and destructive synthetic substances among the youth, says Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigations director Commissioner Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin.
He said in addition to government countermeasures, public cooperation – including from non-governmental organisations – is critical to preventing the nation’s youth from abusing drugs, particularly synthetic substances.
“We urge the public to fight this menace together, providing tip-offs on drug activities or abuse they may come across,” he said in an interview.
According to the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), over 70% of the almost 170,000 drug addicts accounted for in the country until September of this year were synthetic drug users.
Describing synthetic drugs as highly potent and extremely detrimental to both mental and physical health, Comm Khaw said the amphetamines and methamphetamines marketed under various names – such as syabu, ice, ecstasy, yaba, eramin and ketamine – will cause the user to experience an intense, stronger and faster “high” effect, making them appealing to those who developed a tolerance to weaker drugs.
He also said methamphetamine-based substances induce an intense euphoric rush, heightened alertness and increased energy levels.
“There has been a noticeable shift from traditional narcotics to synthetic alternatives, partly due to social influence and trends,” he added.
He said younger users are gravitating towards “party drugs” like MDMA and methamphetamine which appear to be associated with nightlife leisure and social gatherings. Many of these users have a false belief that synthetic drugs are safer because they do not involve needles or expose them to the risk of contracting diseases such as AIDS.
“However, the risks associated with these substances are often far greater due to the uncertain potency and the toxic additives that go into them. Synthetic drugs can be far more addictive compared to mellower traditional drugs,” Comm Khaw said.
He said among the reasons synthetic drugs are picking up pace is because of their lower cost compared to traditional narcotics, making them more affordable for users, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Comm Khaw said synthetic drugs are often blended with other toxic substances by drug dealers to stretch their supply and increase profit margins.
He said police findings also show that there are numerous local criminal syndicates involved in the production of synthetic drugs, mainly in urban areas so as to conceal their clandestine operations.
According to Comm Khaw, local dealers who push the drugs have close ties to the syndicates.
He said the involvement of foreigners is also on the rise, particularly those from other South-East Asian countries and West Africa.
He also said the foreigners are collaborating with local drug syndicates to expand their network. Foreign syndicates, he added, are particularly active in smuggling in “precursor” chemicals or ingredients into the country, which are later used to produce drugs in clandestine labs here.
“Malaysia’s strategic location and its extensive coastline make it a favourable transit point for these drug syndicates, where ports, borders and areas in the interiors are often used as a gateway,” he added.
Comm Khaw said larger, transnational criminal organisations, including those from the Golden Triangle, operate sophisticated networks that not only manufacture synthetic drugs but also smuggle them across borders, including Malaysia’s.
To this, he said greater cooperation with neighbouring countries and international agencies is essential to curb the flow of precursor chemicals of synthetic drugs and their end products.
“I have instructed all state NCID chiefs to clean up and eradicate all drug activities. The Narcotics Nucleus Secretariat has also been ordered to intensify border control in northern Kedah, Perak’s Pengkalan Hulu, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.
“We are also sharing information and intelligence with our counterparts in Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.
“We need to stamp out this ‘disease’ before it goes out of control,” he added.
Comm Khaw said education on the dangers of synthetic drugs and providing accessible rehabilitation services are key to reducing addiction rates.
“This issue is highly complex, and tackling it requires sustained efforts on multiple fronts,” he added.
Comm Khaw said he is determined to eradicate or substantially lower drug activities and hopes his mission will be met before his retirement in the first quarter of next year.
AADK director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh pleaded with synthetic drug users to seek help from the agency or other organisations offering rehabilitation programmes.
He added families of drug users should assist their affected family members with moral support and encourage them to seek help.
Ruslin said those with information on drug users and pushing activities can call AADK’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-22-2235 or WhatsApp at 019-626 2233.
