The Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) has ordered all 56 police station chiefs in the state to arrest at least one drug addict every day, effective from July 15.
Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the directive was introduced because police station chiefs are familiar with their local communities, making it easier to identify and arrest drug addicts.
He said the initiative will run for three months, until October, before its effectiveness is reviewed.
“We have made it mandatory for every police station chief to arrest one drug addict each day. At the district level, police chiefs will focus on drug traffickers, while the State Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department will target major drug kingpins and syndicates,” he told reporters after the Kelantan police monthly assembly on Tuesday.
Mohd Yusoff said Kelantan Police previously set a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of arresting 85 drug addicts daily across the state.
Under the new approach, he said enforcement begins at the grassroots level, with police station chiefs expected to take a more active role as they are most familiar with drug-related activities in their respective areas.
He added that officers who fail to meet the daily KPI will face disciplinary action.
Mohd Yusoff expressed confidence that the initiative would also put greater pressure on drug traffickers by disrupting the drug market at the community level.
“We want to cut the problem off at its roots. That is why police station chiefs must play their role by arresting at least one drug addict every day,” he said.
He also believes that reducing drug abuse will help lower other types of crime, noting that investigations have shown drugs are often a contributing factor in many criminal offences.
