The Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) arrested 413 individuals for drug abuse and drug dealing between January and July 2023.
NCB Director Dato Paduka Mohd Zalani bin Haji Ismail shared the statistics during a public awareness campaign at the Grand Ballroom of the V-Plaza Hotel in the Belait District yesterday. The campaign was held in conjunction with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) 2023 commemoration.
Dato Paduka Mohd Zalani said the agency, in cooperation with other agencies, has conducted 25 operations since 2020 to identify and stop syndicates, drug dealers and drug abuse.
Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Mohammad bin Abdullah @ Lim Swee Ann and Assistant Belait District Officer Mohammad Yassin bin Haji Ahmed, as well as mukim penghulus, village heads and representatives from government agencies and groups based in Belait District were also present.
“The NCB is also closely collaborating with government agencies, private sector, higher institutions, and relevant parties to jointly raise awareness on the dangers of drug use as well as the offences surrounding Chapter 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Criminal Asset Recovery Order, 2012,” he said.
He hoped that the attendees will continue to disseminate the information gained to residents in their mukims, villages, companies and groups.
The event continued with talks by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) and Deputy Senior Legal Adviser as the Head of the Financial Crimes and Narcotics Unit Dayangku Didi-Nuraza binti Pengiran Haji Abdul Latiff and with DPP and Legal Adviser from the Financial Crimes and Narcotics Unit Muhammad Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman.
The event also saw the handover of posters and pamphlets to the attendees to be posted at community centres and halls. – Daniel Lim
