Latest news with #drugaddicts
Arab News
23-06-2025
- Arab News
Sri Lanka seizes $76m smuggled drugs this year
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's anti-narcotics drive has resulted in the seizure of more than three tonnnes (6,600 pounds) of illegal drugs with a street value of $76 million this year, officials said Monday. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said most of the illegal drugs originated in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and were being smuggled into the island by sea. He said there were an estimated 400,000 addicts in the nation of 22 million people. 'We need to reduce demand while keeping up detections,' Wijepala told reporters in Colombo. Police chief Priyantha Weerasooriya said the drugs seized had a street value of 23 billion rupees ($76 million). That was close to the 28 billion rupees' worth of drugs seized in the whole of 2024. More than 1,000 people were arrested for drug dealing and smuggling, he added. They included a 38-year-old Thai woman, arrested at Colombo airport on May 30 carrying nearly 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine, the largest detection of the drug at an entry point to the South Asian nation. Also last month, three others — from Britain, India and Thailand — were arrested trying to smuggle in nearly 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of synthetic cannabis. All four suspects, including the Thai woman arrested with cocaine, could face life imprisonment if convicted. Sri Lankan authorities have previously seized large quantities of heroin off the country's shores, suggesting the island is being used as a transit hub for narcotics destined for other locations. In October, a Sri Lankan court sentenced 10 Iranian men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to heroin smuggling. Sri Lanka's largest single seizure of narcotics occurred in December 2016, when Customs found 800 kilos of cocaine in a transshipment container of timber destined for India.
Malay Mail
13-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
UM dental students provide care and support to former drug addicts — Nor Azlida Mohd Nor and Mia Izrina Izzuddin
JUNE 13 — A team of passionate students from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya (UM), recently embarked on a meaningful community service initiative to support the overall well-being of former drug addicts currently undergoing rehabilitation. This outreach project was conducted as part of their undergraduate service-learning course. Former drug addicts are among the vulnerable groups who often face significant barriers in accessing healthcare, including oral health services. Prolong substance abuse has a detrimental impact on oral health due to a combination of biological, behavioural, and lifestyle factors. Studies show that long-term use of substances such as methamphetamines, heroin, and cocaine can reduce saliva flow, leading to dry mouth, which significantly increases the risk of dental caries, gum disease, and oral infections. According to the World Drug Report, an estimated 13.8 million individuals aged 15 to 16 years (5.6 per cent) are users of cannabis-type substances. In Malaysia, national data from 2010 indicated that approximately 2,138 adolescents, or 9.25 per cent, were involved in drug abuse, with the highest prevalence among youths aged 19–39 years, followed by those aged 13–18 years. Dentistry students from UM during a community outreach programme with residents of Rumah Sahabat in Hulu Langat, Selangor between April and May 2025. — Picture courtesy of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya In addition, former drug users often face poor access to healthcare due to stigma and discrimination, which discourages them from seeking help, including dental treatment. This lack of access further exacerbates their oral health conditions and presents challenges to their social reintegration. Poor oral health not only affects physical well-being but also has a profound impact on self-confidence, speech, nutrition, and overall quality of life. Recognising these challenges, UM dental students designed a community project focused on oral health promotion, basic dental screenings, and preventive care. According to the student leader Mia Izrina Izzuddin, 'This project aimed not only to improve oral health outcomes but also to empower individuals in recovery by treating them with respect and compassion'. The students visited the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (Rumah Sahabat) in Hulu Langat on four occasions (April-May 2025), beginning with a needs assessment, followed by the implementation of various oral health activities. The team conducted educational talks, designed fun activities, and created educational posters and videos. Muhamad Akif and Dayang mentioned 'we developed a training module and reminder materials for trainers, incorporating Islamic values related to oral care, to help sustain the program beyond the duration of our project'. In addition, dental and HIV screenings were conducted in collaboration with the Hulu Langat District Health Office. Reflecting on their experiences, students Nur Syafiqah, Shelby, and Tan Xuen Yue shared that the project inspired them to give back to marginalised communities. Muhammad Shafiq, Low Zhe Hsien and Jaskiran also said they gained valuable real-world experience by assisting lecturers during dental treatments and developed a deeper understanding of the various social determinants that influence individuals' well-being. Other group members, Wong Xin Ning, Rachel and Derrica Ladius highlighted the importance of negotiation skills and collaborative efforts with key stakeholders, including the National Anti-Drugs Agency, Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia (PEMADAM) and medical personnel from the Hulu Langat District Health Office for a meaningful intervention. The management of Rumah Sahabat Asyraf Amri and team expressed their gratitude for the initiative, noting that this was the first time many residents had received any form of oral care since entering the program. Several residents shared that they felt hopeful after interacting with the UM students, who treated them with kindness and respect. A short term project evaluation indicated positive improvement of oral health knowledge among the residents. This initiative highlights the essential role that students and academic institutions can play in bridging the gap between education and underserved communities. The experience also shaped students' professional development, cultivating empathy and social responsibility. * Further details of the program may be acquired from the Project Advisor, Assoc Prof Dr Nor Azlida Mohd Nor from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya. She may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Hundreds of prisoners escape after multiple earthquakes cause chaos in jail
Hundreds of prisoners have broken out of jail after earthquakes meant they had to stand in a courtyard to avoid the building collapsing. The inmates then snatched guns from the prison guards and barged their way through the gates following a shootout, with more than 200 now on the loose. At least one prisoner died in the shootout and three guards were wounded. Shattered windows and broken glass now cover the inside of the prison with furniture thrown around from the carnage. Some 80 escapees have been rounded up as cops go door-to-door to find those on the run, while nearly 130 are still at large, according to Murad Ali Shah, the provincial chief minister. Tremors had rocked the southern Pakistani city of Karachi late on Monday, with the prisoners escaping District Malir just before midnight. One local outlet said the inmates were able to escape through the jail's outer wall that had been weakened from the earthquakes. Local TV footage showed some joyous inmates running through the streets barefoot. While other inmates were unnerved by the tremors due to their heroin addiction, according to an official. Sindh Inspector General of Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, told that 'most of the prisoners were drug addicts'. 'The addicts' state of mind is such that they tend to develop mob psychology. Thus, when such an atmosphere was created inside the prison, the prisoners ran by opening the door of the jail,' he added. Before the panicked inmates were allowed to gather outside, thousands of them began trying to break down their doors when they started to feel the tremors. When the frenzy became violent, police reportedly tried to calm the havoc by firing nearly 700 warning shots. The provincial chief minister criticised the guards for letting the inmates out in the first place and urged any still on the run to hand themselves over or face serious charges. One mother was reported to have dragged her own son back to prison after returning home. The cramped jail is meant to house only 2,200 people but there are at least 6,000 currently inside. A private security guard at a nearby residential complex who goes by the name of Bukhsh said 'I heard the firing for quite some time and then some time later prisoners made their way out running in all directions'. Some of the vigilantes broke into his complex before they were rounded up by police. The minister for prisons in the region, Ali Hassan Zardari, warned that any officers who allowed the prisoners to escape will be disciplined after launching an investigation into the breakout. The superintendent for Malir prison, Arshad Shah, said there were 28 guards on duty last night and insisted there was no issue with security. It was 'all due to a natural disaster', it was reported in the BBC, however there are no security cameras in the facility. He added that 'only a few of such a large number of prisoners escaped'. Concerned families have been gathering outside the prison in the mean time, angry that their visits to loved ones inside have been postponed.
