Sabah police commissioner Ramli Din said the tip-offs they received included information on planned intrusions by the Southern Philippines-based Royal Sulu Force (RSF) of the self-styled Royal Sulu Sultanate.
Security along the state’s east coast was heightened following the Tanduo incursion by Philippine militants in March 2013. This led to the establishment of the Eastern Security Command (Esscom), which was tasked with watching over 10 districts designated as the Esszone. Until this day, a dusk-to-dawn curfew is still in place off the waters of these districts.
Speaking to the media after the monthly parade and gathering at the state police headquarters here today, Ramli said Sabah’s crime solving rate had exceeded 77% last year.
“This is something we are proud of as it is the highest in the country,” he added.
He noted however that the crime index had increased by nearly 16% to 6,242 cases.
“Statistically, out of every 10 cases reported, 7.72 cases were solved,” Ramli said.
He said police made 1,282 arrests for drug-related offences in 2017, an increase of 43.72% compared to the 892 cases in 2016.
The most significant increase was in the number of arrests under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act, with the figure going up from 24 in 2016 to 93 last year.
Ramli said the amount of synthetic drug syabu seized had nearly doubled over the same period, from 39.3kg to 71.45kg last year.
He said Sabah police would also be launching a volunteer squad to help victims of natural disasters such as floods or landslides.
The squad comprising policemen and volunteers will be launched at Tenghilan in Tuaran district near here on Jan 27.