NCID officer seriously injured in machete attack during drug raid in Tanah Merah, says Kelantan police chief

KOTA BHARU, Oct 18 — A Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) officer from the Kelantan Contingent Police Headquarters was seriously injured after being attacked with a machete by a man during a drug enforcement operation in Kampung Lalang Pepuyu, Tanah Merah, yesterday.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the incident occurred at 1.35pm when a team from the Kelantan NCID, assisted by personnel from the Bukit Bunga and Lalang Pepuyu police stations, raided a house in the village.

He said the suspect, believed to be about 30 years old, attempted to flee when the raid began but was pursued by the police.

“During the attempt to apprehend him, the suspect acted aggressively, swinging a machete at the officers. This resulted in one officer sustaining serious injuries, including a fracture to his left arm,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Mohd Yusoff said the suspect was arrested after a struggle. Police also seized a machete measuring about 35 centimetres, yaba pills weighing an estimated 0.1 gramme and a bottle containing liquid suspected to be ketum water.

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

He said the suspect would be brought to court tomorrow to obtain a remand order for further investigation.

The operation was conducted by the Kelantan NCID (JSJN), in collaboration with narcotics investigation teams, across four districts — Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Tanah Merah and Jeli — under Ops Tapis Bersepadu Sempadan, aimed at curbing drug smuggling and distribution along the Malaysia-Thailand border. — Bernama