KUALA LUMPUR: Over 40 police boats have been mobilised for flood mitigation work as of this week, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police says.

"The situation has improved slightly. There are still five states that are still facing floods.

"As of Dec 28, the police have mobilised 750 policemen, 47 boats, 32 lorries, 59 4x4 vehicles and six ambulances.

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"This is according to the current situation," Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said when met at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here on Friday (Dec 29).

In an unrelated matter, the deputy IGP said that the police were now focusing on taking down the heads of drug syndicates and their senior members.

"That is the difference between past drug operations and what we had achieved recently.

"We will aim for the heads to ensure that we can overcome the issue of drug distribution and smuggling," he said.

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He added that he was unable to divulge too much as it could affect current investigations and operations.

Previously, a 40-year-old patron of a non-governmental organisation was among 10 people that had been held for alleged involvement in a drug syndicate.

They were caught in a special operation on Dec 25.

The NGO founder, with the title of "Datuk", was believed to be the leader of the syndicate which had been operating out of Sabah for over eight years.