Police Officer Seriously Injured in Machete Attack During Drug Operation

KOTA BHARU: An officer from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) was seriously injured after being slashed with a machete by a man during an operation to combat drug smuggling and trafficking in Kampung Lalang Pepuyu, Tanah Merah, on Saturday.

Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the incident occurred at 1.35 pm when a team of officers from the Kelantan NCID, together with personnel from the Bukit Bunga and Lalang Pepuyu police stations, raided a house in the village.

He said the suspect, aged about 30, fled as soon as the raid was carried out, prompting police officers to give chase.

“While officers were attempting to arrest him, the suspect acted aggressively and swung a machete at them, seriously injuring one officer and causing a fracture to his left arm,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

Mohd Yusoff said the suspect was successfully apprehended following a struggle, while police seized a machete measuring approximately 35 centimetres, about 0.1 grammes of yaba pills and a bottle of liquid suspected to be ketum water.

“Background checks revealed that the suspect has six previous drug-related records. The case is being investigated under Sections 307 and 324 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952,” he said.

The suspect will be brought to court tomorrow to obtain a remand order for further investigations.

The operation was conducted by the Kelantan NCID in collaboration with narcotics investigation divisions in four districts — Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Tanah Merah and Jeli — under the Integrated Border Ops Tapis operation, aimed at curbing drug smuggling and trafficking activities along the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Bernama