By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-27 02:52:00 | Updated at 2025-04-05 15:03:59
1 week ago
Deep within Malaysia’s sewage systems, traces of fentanyl, the infamous drug that is 100 times more potent than morphine, have been detected.
In a groundbreaking effort, authorities are now turning to waste water analysis to track the presence of dangerous drugs and even pinpoint hidden drug labs.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said a collaboration between the Narcotic Crime Investigation Department (NCID) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has led to the game-changing discovery of fentanyl and methamphetamine residues in the Lembah Subang sewage system in Selangor state.
“The drug residue analysis in the sewage system also revealed the presence of drug processing labs in the area,” he said in a press conference after attending the committee meeting on the strategic cooperation between the police and UKM on Wednesday.
Drug residue analysis in sewage systems have been done in the Klang Valley and Johor but it will be expanded nationwide, he added.
“Once we analyse samples from around the country, we will be able to see the drug trend more accurately.
