MACHANG, Oct 17 — The trend of drug abuse among those under the age of 15 is increasingly concerning and requires more comprehensive preventive efforts, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said that based on the profiles of individuals involved in drug abuse, those aged between 15 and 39 formed the largest group.
He added that this development necessitates a preventive approach that also emphasises early education and the role of parents in curbing the involvement of youngsters in drug abuse.
“The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has three main functions, namely education and prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation, to address the issue of drug abuse.
“Efforts to educate the public must be strengthened to raise awareness and encourage preventive action among families,” he told a media conference after attending the Home Ministry’s Madani Adopted Village and Madani Adopted School 2026 launching ceremony here today.
Meanwhile, commenting on the seizure of 521 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine from a private jet in Laos recently, Saifuddin Nasution said the drugs were found aboard the aircraft before it was due to depart for Manila.
He said the aircraft had departed from Subang for Laos without any drugs on board, before the consignment was loaded into the plane when it was in that country.
“Laotian authorities detected the drugs when the aircraft was about to continue its flight to Manila,.
“Police have traced the aircraft’s owner, as well as its pilot and co-pilot, to assist in the investigation as the aircraft had departed from Subang,” he said.
He said investigation was also focusing on the party that charted the aircraft, the purpose of the charter and its intended destination.
Saifuddin Nasution said the aircraft owner’s identity had been established, but further details of the investigation could not yet be disclosed.
Previously, Lao police seized 521kg of crystal methamphetamine from a private Learjet that had arrived from Malaysia at Luang Prabang International Airport, with 13 individuals arrested in connection with the case.
The Vientiane Times, quoting the Lao Security Newspaper, reported that the security operation was conducted on October 1 following information received by provincial police on Sept 21 regarding a drug trafficking syndicate believed to be planning to smuggle narcotics across the border by air, using a private aircraft.
According to the report, police subsequently received information about a change in the flight schedule, with the private jet expected to arrive from Malaysia at Luang Prabang International Airport at 1.30 pm on October 1. — Bernama