PADANG TERAP: Police seized 720kg of ketum leaves and arrested five men in an operation in Jalan Kampung Bagan, Naka here, today.
The leaves were found inside three cars during the 3pm operation, codenamed Op Sepadu.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Noh Idris said police found 40 plastic bags of ketum leaves inside a Toyota Wish, 17 bags in a Kia Citra and 15 bags in a Proton Perdana.
Each of the bags weighed about 10kg, he said.
He said police arrested the drivers and a passenger each in the Toyota Wish and Kia Citra.
“The leaves were meant for smuggling to (Thailand). Four of the men are from Kelantan while the other was from Thailand,” Noh said in a statement.
The case is being investigated under Section 30 of the Poisons Act 1952 which carries a sentence of up to four years’ jail or a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.