DRUGS: Let's work together to combat menace

28 September 2012 | last updated at 12:10AM

Frequent reports about drug seizures and drug syndicates involving foreigners are of the utmost concern to Malaysians.

For example, this month alone, several major drug hauls were reported.

On Sept 4, the Criminal Investigation Department director announced the crippling of an African drug syndicate responsible for coordinating the import and export of drugs in Malaysia.

On Sept 11, the Johor police uncovered a drug laboratory in Muar and seized drugs worth tens of millions of ringgit.

On Sept 15, police found 13 barrels containing a mixture of sand and an undisclosed amount of syabu in Puchong, Selangor.

On Sept 25, it was again reported that the police busted another two syndicates that had been using Malaysia as a transit point, with the seizure of drugs amounting to RM11 million.

From the frequent drug hauls by both the police and Customs, it would appear that Malaysia is increasingly being used as a transit point and that the drug problem within the country is urgent enough to warrant more action by the relevant authorities.

Given the fact that Malaysia aims, in line with the Asean vision of creating a drug-free region, to make the country drug-free by the year 2015, the question uppermost in our minds is whether that target is attainable.

Malaysia's move to make the nation drug-free is most laudable but it requires commitment, political will and the participation of the community.

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DRUGS: Let's work together to combat menace