ECSTASY SOLD FOR EXTRA INCOME

IPOH: Police believe that Ecstasy pills are being sold by staff of entertainment outlets, including bartenders, bouncers and even managers, as a means to get additional income.

Ipoh OCPD Acting Senior Asst Commissioner II Zuber Shariff said that in one case a few months ago, the general manager and manager of an unlicensed discotheque here were found to be selling the pills personally.

He said a certain number of Ecstasy pills were found in the house of one of the suspects.

He said both suspects were held under the Dangerous Drugs Act (Special Preventive Measures 1985) and also had their property confiscated under the Forfeiture of Property Act 1988.

SAC II Zuber said 1,078 Ecstasy pills and 59.3gm of syabu were confiscated from entertainment outlets and individuals throughout Perak in the first seven months of the year.

He said police had carried out 47 raids on entertainment outlets and had detained 55 people, aged between 18 and 35, under the Dangerous Drugs Act during that period.

Last year, 65 people were detained in 40 raids while 21 people were arrested in 19 raids in 1998, Zuber said.

He added that 1,527 people underwent urine tests this year of whom 95 were tested positive for drugs.

He said the pills were initially brought into the country from Thailand but were now produced locally.

"Previously, those consuming Ecstasy were among the upper class as the pills were expensive, but lately, people from all walks of life are taking them as well because the pills are now cheaper,'' he told reporters after a ceremony to destroy 676 horse racing machines at the Ipoh police headquarters here yesterday.

Also present were state Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Chang Ko Youn, acting Perak CID chief Asst Comm Ghazali Ismail and deputy Ipoh OCPD Supt Jonathan Barau Balong.

Zuber warned that those found with 50gm or more of Ecstasy pills could be charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act which carries the death penalty.

Chang said the state government and police were serious in overcoming the drug menace and had increased enforcement activities.

"It is hoped that the people will co-operate by giving information on such activities,'' he said.

He said police had managed to reduce the illegal gaming machines and Ecstasy menace through two operations codenamed Ops Hiburan and Ops Syiling in Perak.

He said the state government had also set up a committee chaired by Datuk Bandar Datuk Talaat Husain to hold talks with the police on enforcement.

Under the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment, Chang said 20 officers from Ipoh City Council would be selected and authorised to enter such outlets to carry out inspections and confiscate items.

He said those contravening the new enactment, such as those who operated illegal outlets, could be fined RM20,000 compared to RM500 in the past.