KUCHING – Sarawak has recorded its highest number of drug-related arrests in the past decade, underscoring intensified enforcement and early intervention efforts under the One Stop Committee Menangani Isu Dadah dan Substance (OSC MIDS).
The figures were revealed by Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah during a media conference following the State-Level OSC MIDS Meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Friday.
Statistics presented showed 632 drug traffickers apprehended, alongside 2,387 possession cases and 9,703 drug users, marking the largest arrest numbers in ten years.
Dato Sri Fatimah explained that while the increase may appear alarming, it reflects proactive enforcement that enables authorities to intervene early.
“Although the increase in arrests may appear worrying, it is actually a positive development because it allows us to take further action and intervene early, rather than leaving the problem hidden within the community,” she said.
She noted that enforcement operations under OSC MIDS also led to substantial drug seizures, which disrupted supply chains and curtailed circulation.
The impact of these seizures was estimated to have prevented 763,861 instances of drug use and saved 27,578 individuals from prolonged abuse.
Highlighting the holistic nature of OSC MIDS, Dato Sri Fatimah stressed that the approach balances enforcement with rehabilitation and recovery.
Those apprehended are channelled into treatment and intervention programmes, ensuring that enforcement is not merely punitive but also restorative.
“This is our success story. Enforcement allows us to identify those involved early, so that rehabilitation and recovery processes can be carried out effectively,” she added.
She urged communities, families, and stakeholders to continue collaborating with authorities, emphasising that prevention, enforcement, and rehabilitation must progress together to safeguard Sarawak’s wellbeing.
The media briefing was attended by Deputy Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) Sarawak Director Abdul Hamediee Ibrahim, and Sarawak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Ab.
With enforcement strengthened and rehabilitation prioritised, Sarawak’s OSC MIDS framework continues to stand as a comprehensive model in tackling drug and substance abuse across the state.
