Bukit Aman: Highway drug crackdown nets 135 drivers, with commercial motorists making up nearly 90pc

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — A total of 135 people were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs between April and June, with nearly 90 per cent of those arrested being commercial vehicle drivers, federal traffic police said today.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Commissioner Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said the inter-agency operations targeting commercial vehicles were launched in response to a noticeable rise in drug use among drivers, prompting the ongoing enforcement initiative.

“JSPT takes a serious view of drug use among commercial vehicle drivers, as it can impair concentration, judgment and vehicle control, significantly increasing the risk of fatal road accidents.

“No compromise will be given to drivers who are found to be driving under the influence of drug as such an act not only endangers oneself but also other road users,” he told a press conference at JSPT headquarters in Bukit Aman here.

The inter-agency operation, involving the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), saw a total of 44 operations carried out by 627 enforcement officers along the PLUS Expressway and the East Coast Expressway.

Of the 135 individuals arrested, 121 were commercial vehicle drivers, while the remaining 14 were drivers of non-commercial vehicles.

Muhammed Hasbullah said most of the substances detected were amphetamines, reportedly used to boost concentration during long hours of driving.

“JSPT also reminds logistics companies to conduct periodic monitoring of their drivers, including drug screening, and to adopt a non-compromising approach towards any employee found to be involved in drug abuse,” he said.