PUTRAJAYA – Drug users can purchase synthetic drugs for as low as RM18 on the dark web or through messaging applications such as Telegram and WhatsApp, according to the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada).
Its director-general Sutekno Ahmad Belon said these illegal substances such as yaba pills, methamphetamine and ecstasy would then be sent to the buyer’s house via courier or delivery service.
“Instead of going to drug pushers, they (drug users) can order and have it delivered directly to their homes,” he told a press conference after the Cabinet Committee on the Eradication of Drugs meeting which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi here today.
Sutekno said that based on the information obtained by Nada, drug users spend RM50 every three days on their drug supply, and the amount would increase depending on their level of addiction.
“It (the price) depends on the purity of the substances, cheap ones are sold for as low as RM18 including delivery fee,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sutekno said the committee today agreed for Nada to implement the One Million Anti-Drug Squad Member Campaign to hold more healthy lifestyle programmes and activities.
He said the squad would serve as agents of change in delivering the message “drug abuse prevention starts at home”.
Zahid, after chairing the committee meeting today, said the Home Affairs Ministry and Nada have been given three months to coordinate efforts to devise effective initiatives or programmes to curb drug problems.
He said that several related agencies also need to join hands to draft and organise effective initiatives or programmes so that drug problems can be curbed more effectively. – Bernama, July 10, 2023
