SOME parents continue to defend their children despite their involvement in drug addiction, even as a tougher police strategy against drug offenders gains strong public support in Kelantan.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said only a small minority of parents maintained the practice of defending children who were drug addicts.
"However, this involves only a small minority, as the majority have given positive feedback and support for the implementation of Kelantan police's new strategic plan.
"Since the implementation of the new strategic plan on July 15, which requires all 56 police station chiefs to arrest at least one drug addict every day, the number of arrests has increased and the feedback we have received has also been very encouraging.
"When I meet members of the public, many say they are relieved because crimes such as housebreaking and theft have declined," he said at a press conference at the Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters here on Sunday.
Mohd Yusoff said the new strategy had resulted in a significant increase in arrests since it was introduced on July 15.
He said that although police lock-ups were full, the situation remained under control and could still be managed.
The enforcement strategy was not limited to drug addicts, he said, but also targeted drug traffickers and suppliers.
"Thank God, there have been no recent large-scale drug shipments entering Kelantan," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Yusoff said Kelantan police had disposed of 6,536 drug exhibits of various types with an estimated value of about RM1.104 million.
He said the drugs were linked to cases dating from 2008 to 2024 that had completed court proceedings and were ordered by the courts to be destroyed in accordance with established procedures.
"The solid drugs weigh 39.41 kilogrammes, while the liquid drugs total 2,534.047 litres. Their total estimated market value is RM1.104 million.
"The disposal of these case exhibits will be carried out tomorrow at the Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd Solid Waste Disposal Centre in Bukit Pelanduk, Negeri Sembilan," he said. - August 23, 2026
