Sabah cops nab addict who hid in bushes for three hours

KOTA KINABALU: A suspected drug addict’s attempt to evade police by hiding in some bushes failed when he was found and eventually arrested.

Police were conducting a major anti-crime operation dubbed Ops Sarang Bersepadu at the Kg Lembaga Padi squatter area in Inanam.

Kota Kinabalu police chief Asst Comm Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said the suspect was among 11 people arrested in the five-hour operation at 4am on Sunday (Aug 6).

“The integrated operation was aimed at arrested drug peddlers as well as addicts in the area,” he said, adding that they aimed to create a safer environment for the community in the area where many crimes had been reported.

He said the operation went smoothly despite facing challenges combing the squatter colony where houses were built haphazardly with illegal electric wiring which posed a danger to policemen.

The operation also included support from the police’s air wing, marine police and the General Operations Force (GOF).