NCB Nabs 49 Suspects In Major Raid
By Zan Hosni

Bandar Seri Begawan - A series of massive raids by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in three districts involving 90 officers detained 49 drug suspects in an overnight operation.

The raid codenamed "Operasi Bersih" began on April 29 and ended in the wee hours of yesterday.

The operation it is understood a strategy adopted by the NCB to control the supply and consumption of drugs in Brunei.

Under the direction from the Assistant Director of Enforcement Section, Awg Hj Ahmad Metassan, the 90 officers and staff from NCBs various departments were divided into 12 teams and raided 32 residential as well as other suspected areas where drug-related activities were known to take place.

The operation carried out in three districts - Brunei-Muara, Belait and Tutong - ended up detaining 49 suspects. Thirty-one were taken in from the Brunei-Muara district, seven in Belait and 11 from Tutong.

Out of the 49, four were detained under suspicion of trafficking drugs and 42 were detained for drug abuse. Three of those originally detained were freed after tests found that they had not consumed any drugs. The rest are still undergoing further investigations.

With this latest operation, the NCB hopes that there will be a reduction in the supply and consumption of drugs. The operation was also aimed at increasing the public awareness especially among those involved in drug-related activities and that their activities are continuously being monitored and that they cannot escape from the law.

From the many operations that have been conducted since the beginning of this year, a total of 226 suspects have been detained. This shows a decrease from last year's figures of 293 cases.

It is hoped that community leaders and the general public can collectively give their cooperation by reporting to the NCB of any drug-related activities that they suspect in their villages. Such cooperation is needed on a continuous basis in order to free the nation from the dangers of drugs.

The Narcotics Control Bureau in their efforts to suppress drug activities in the nation will continue to conduct such operations in various areas within the country from time to time, a NCB official said. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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