Ex-AG links drug rise to police unit removal

The disbandment of the Police Narcotics Unit following the 2022 General Election created an opening for drug syndicates to escalate their operations, according to former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

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Now, that’s the issue; there was a liberation that was given to them for one year.

Sayed-Khaiyum asserted that the previous government had significantly invested in combating narcotics through dedicated police resources and funding. He alleges that the Coalition Government's initial major action was to dismantle this specialized unit, which then remained inactive for approximately one year. He characterized this period as a "liberation" for criminal networks.

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He claims the unit then remained inactive for about a year, which he described as a period of liberation for criminal networks.

He further explained that the former Police Commissioner had requested additional support, including unmarked vehicles for undercover work, and these requests had been approved. Sayed-Khaiyum emphasizes that even a brief lapse in enforcement can have severe repercussions in the ongoing fight against drugs. He is calling on the current government to recognize the consequences of its decision while continuing efforts to strengthen law enforcement against the escalating drug issue.

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Sayed-Khaiyum states that even a short gap in enforcement can have serious consequences in the fight against drugs.