KUALA LUMPUR: Ketum leaves and powder are being sold openly through social media.
Surveys revealed that several major e-commerce platforms are being used to sell such substances to the public.
It has also been discovered that sellers and suppliers use code words such as "red vein vegetable", "green leaf with white veins", "village herb powder", "solid powder", "herbal mother" and others.
Sellers are reported to be offering ketum leaves at around RM48 per kg or RM28 for 500g.
They also sell processed ketum powder at RM34 for a 28g packet. Some are even selling it cheaper, at RM18 for a 50g packet.
Federal police Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said the existence of ketum leaf sales online cannot be denied.
He said police managed to detect nine cases of ketum sales online in 2020.
"This includes four cases on social media, three on Facebook and one on Telegram, as well as four cases on Lazada and one on Shopee," he told Harian Metro.
He added that police, particularly NCID, have a special unit that constantly monitors online ketum sales activities.