In Kuala Lumpur on March 13th, it was reported that the police have confiscated a parcel suspected to contain cannabis extract in a tube of toothpaste addressed to two politicians.
The Sepang district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof, stated that an officer from a ministry’s inquiry office had filed a police report after receiving a call from a delivery service. The parcel was suspected to contain prohibited items as another government office had received a parcel containing ‘cannabis leaf’ the previous week.
However, the investigation found no connection between the confiscated items and the addressees. The police, together with the complainant, went to the delivery centre in Sepang where the parcel was seized on March 10th. The toothpaste tube was labeled “Happy Green” with green and white marijuana leaf patterns and was purchased through an online shopping platform with an address in Indonesia.
The case is being investigated by the Putrajaya police’s narcotics division under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which deals with the restriction on possession of raw opium, coca leaves, poppy-straw, and cannabis.
Cannabis is illegal in Malaysia and possession, use, and distribution of cannabis can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and even the death penalty. The Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 classifies cannabis as a dangerous drug, and its possession and trafficking are punishable by law.
The Malaysian government considers cannabis to be a threat to public health and security, and there are no legal allowances for medical or recreational use of the drug. Despite this, cannabis use in Malaysia remains prevalent, particularly among young people, and the country faces challenges in tackling drug abuse and trafficking.
The government has launched various initiatives to address drug-related issues, including drug rehabilitation programs, education campaigns, and crackdowns on drug trafficking activities.
