Despite more narcotics arrests made in the past two years, the value of drugs confiscated dropped by RM27.46 million.

Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Mohd Noor Rashid Ibrahim said there was a 16 percent increase in arrests last year, totalling 167,000 people as compared with 157,756 in 2010.

Drugs confiscated last year were valued at RM243.32 million compared with RM270.78 million in 2010, he said.

"This is because we focused more on heroin, which is lower in value, although the overall weight was higher," he told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

However, Mohd Noor Rashid said, more drug dealers were arrested last year, numbering 11,648 people, which is a 12 per cent increase compared with 10,427 in 2010.

"For less serious offences, police arrested 155,353 people last year. This was a five per cent increase compared with 147,329 people detained in 2010," he said.

Threefold increase in Yaba pills seizure

Commenting on the types of drugs seized, Mohd Noor Rashid said heroin remained the number one type confiscated, with 445.13kg seized in 2011 compared with 234.27kg the previous year.

"Yaba pills also increased threefold last year with 364,879 pills seized compared with only 107,963 pills in 2010.

"Syabu also increased slightly last year, with 830.29kg seized compared with 760.18kg in 2010," he said.

He added that police also successfully reduced the use of ketamine, with statistics showing a decrease in numbers.

"In 2010, we confiscated 268.04kg of ketamine but the figure dropped to 106.75kg last year. In terms of ganja (cannabis), we seized 796.2kg last year compared with 953.21kg in 2010," said Mohd Noor Rashid.

Police detained 135 foreigners and six locals for drug trafficking at the KL International Airport last year.

"Following the arrests, we seized syabu weighing 281.48kg, 36.1kg of ketamine and 310gm of heroin," he said.

Among the tactics used to smuggle drugs included hiding them in special luggage compartments, food containers, slippers, vehicle spare parts, cosmetics, agriculture equipment, dried salted fish and even by swallowing the drugs.

- Bernama