SOME commercial vehicle drivers detained for drug use have admitted to consuming illegal substances to cope with prolonged driving hours, police said following a series of nationwide enforcement operations targeting road safety and substance abuse.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said the admissions were made during integrated operations carried out on highways nationwide from April to June.
He said a total of 44 coordinated operations were conducted along major highways, including the North-South Expressway and the East Coast Expressway, involving commercial vehicle drivers such as lorry, bus and hazardous cargo operators.
“In the operation, 135 individuals were arrested, including 121 lorry drivers and 14 other individuals. This figure shows that nearly 90 per cent of arrests involved commercial vehicle drivers,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman on Wednesday.
Authorities conducted 713 preliminary urine screenings during the operations, carried out jointly with the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN) and the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).
Police said those detained included drivers of trailers, lorries, express buses, workers’ buses, school buses and vehicles carrying dangerous goods, as well as holders of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and Goods Driving Licence (GDL) permits.
The checks also included verification of vocational licences and company documentation to ensure only qualified and drug-free drivers were allowed on the road.
Muhammed Hasbullah said all 135 individuals were charged under various provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act, including Section 15(1), Section 3(1), Section 12(2), Section 39A and Section 6.
He said methamphetamine was the most commonly detected substance among lorry drivers, adding that some offenders admitted to using drugs to stay awake during extended driving hours.
He also urged transport companies and operators to conduct regular monitoring and urine screening of drivers to ensure compliance and road safety standards. - July 1, 2026
