Police: Malaysians tested positive for drugs upon returning from Thai will face action

KANGAR - Malaysians who test positive for drugs upon returning from Thailand will face actions under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Perlis Police Chief Datuk Surina Saad said the same act also prohibited any individuals from putting drugs in their body.

Surina said that if the individuals were tested positive for drugs once they were in Malaysia, they would be charged under the same act.

"If there are Malaysians who willingly try and took drugs, cannabis or any cannabis-laced products which cause them to be high will be found guilty under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

"Bringing in products based on cannabis is also an offense under the same act and will face charges of drug possession or drug trafficking," she told Sinar Harian on Wednesday.

As of now, the police have not tracked any cannabis or ketum-based product smuggled into Perlis, but would always monitor and arrests would be made if a Malaysian was caught in the act.

She said regardless of quantity, all products listed under the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 was considered an offence.

Surina said all products containing ketum would be taken action under Section 30(3) of the Poison Act 1952.

In the same development, Surina said the rise of drug smuggling was based on the local demands.

"The more drug users, the more the demands would rise and it would indirectly cause drug traffickers and dealers to use multiple means of breaking through borders.

"The ocean route needed the use of large logistics so traffickers would ensure the drugs will be given a big return.

"The usage of hidden routes that involves smugglers knowing the layout of the land in Perlis and work together with locals to obscure their activities," she said.

Surina said it represented another challenge for authorities in stopping the smuggling syndicate.

"It is impossible to place officers in every corners of the border to stop drug trafficking because of the difficult terrain.

"However, police would use their expertise in collecting intelligence information and ensure those local syndicates who have connections with the activities of distributing drugs crossing the borders," she said.

She viewed the act as not only crippling the local syndicates but cooperation with the neighbouring country could ensure the same action would be taken there as well.

Previously Sinar Harian reported that citizens in areas near to the Thailand border took advantage of legalisation of cannabis in the kingdom to go there and have a ‘good time’ on the weekends.

This was proved with increased sales of cannabis drinks in the weekends, as revealed by a convenience store worker in Golok.