PADANG BESAR: Police seized 1,456kg of ketum leaves valued at RM60,240 when arresting four men attempting to smuggle the illegal substance into Thailand in two incidents on Saturday.
In the 9am incident in c a team of police officers at the Malaysian-Thai border in Bukit Kerengga intercepted a ketum smuggling attempt.
Padang Besar police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Shokri Abdullah today said a suspicious vehicle and motorcycle with Thai registration were spotted in the area.
"The officers intercepted both vehicles arresting three men, including the motorcycle rider. The suspects are aged between 19 and 35.
"Further checks found 27 white sacks containing leaves suspected of being ketum, with an estimated weight of 810kg, in the back of the vehicle."
Shokri said the suspects were believed to have been involved in ketum smuggling since the beginning of the year.
"The seized leaves are valued at RM34,400. Two of the suspects have drug-related records.
"The suspects have been detained until tomorrow."
In an earlier raid, a 23-year-old man was detained after police found 646kg of ketum leaves behind a house in Kampung Wang Kelian.
Shokri said that in the 12.30am raid, police found 17 white sacks containing leaves suspected of being ketum.
"The suspect has been involved in this activity since March, using rat routes in Wang Kelian to smuggle ketum leaves out."
He said the value of the seizure was RM25,840, and the suspect had a drug-related record.
"The total value and seizure for both operations amounted to RM60,240 for 1,456kg of ketum leaves, which could be used by 10,500 people.
"The market value for ketum leaves is RM40 per kilogramme, while ketum juice is RM30 per litre."