MARAN: A foreigner who works as a plantation worker in Bandar Jengka took up a second job as a ketum juice seller several months ago to earn extra money.
The 25-year-old Indonesian earned up to RM1,500 a day doing so, but it was not long before his illegal activity was sniffed by police.
Yesterday, a team of policemen raided a shophouse near the Bandar Jengka industrial area about 1pm and found 255 litres of ketum juice packed into 170 bottles.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Norzamri Abdul Rahman said the suspect was waiting for customers when police raided the premises.
“He was working in the plantation, but did not possess any valid documents.
“He started selling the juice several months ago.
“The premises where he operates was previously used to process and pack the juice.
“Police raided the place last year but no arrests were made.
“Now, the juice is processed elsewhere and brought to the shophouse to be sold,” he told a press conference today.
Norzamri said the suspect who tested negative for drugs not only sold the juice to individuals in the district, but also had customers coming from as far away as Temerloh, Jerantut and Bentong.
He said the suspect had been remanded for 14 days and was being investigated under Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952, which carries up to four years’ jail or a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both, upon conviction, and under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having a valid pass/permit.