KUALA NERANG: The army foiled an attempt to smuggle 720kg of ketum leaves worth more than RM57,000 near the Malaysia-Thailand border here yesterday.
In a statement today, the Second Infantry Division said soldiers encountered a suspicious vehicle at a forest located in an area which is under the responsibility of the Sixth Infantry Brigade at 9pm.
"During the operation, the army personnel found an abandoned Mitsubishi Pajero in a suspicious manner in a forest area near the Malaysia-Thailand border.
"A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 71 packages of ketum leaves, weighing 720 kg and valued at RM57,600," the statement said.
All the packages and the vehicle, which was estimated at a total of RM77,600, were handed over to the police for further action.
The division assured that the army will continue to monitor the national border to ensure security is maintained.