KUALA LUMPUR: Laws need to be amended by reducing the weight of drugs that traffickers are caught with, say the police.

       Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Razarudin Husain said the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 needs to be improved in line with current developments so that efforts by the police to eliminate drug abuse can be carried out more effectively.

       He said the improvements that need to be done include reducing the weight of drugs that could be charged under Section 39B of the Act and also the act of charging those involved in drug trafficking under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

       “Currently, under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, offenders can face the death penalty and life imprisonment for possession of 15gm of heroin and 50gm of methampetamine (meth).

       “There is a need for the weight of meth or syabu to be reduced to 15gm or lower.

       “This is because meth or syabu is the most seized drug currently, compared to ketamine, cannabis and heroin.

       “When the Dangerous Drugs Act was formulated, heroin was the drug that was most smuggled into the country. I believe by doing this, we will be able to eliminate drug traffickers,” he said.

       Razarudin said the proposal was submitted to the Home Ministry through its legal division.

       He said that during the first eight months of this year, police seized 18 tonnes of drugs, an increase of 80% in comparison to the corresponding period last year, which was 10.5 tonnes.

       “Most of the drugs seized were meth, which is popular among local drug users,” he added.

       According to Razarudin, meth is also re-exported to other countries. — Bernama