The General Operations Force (PGA) seized 623 litres of ketum juice and 268 kilogrammes of ketum leaves worth nearly RM60,000 during two separate raids in Kota Bharu last Wednesday.
The operations, carried out by Battalion 8 PGA in Kampung Pulau Pisang and Pulau Pak Mat, also led to the arrest of two local men aged 26 and 38 who were allegedly processing ketum juice in a secluded area.
Southeast Brigade PGA commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the first raid at around 1.30pm resulted in the seizure of two boats with long-tail engines, 119kg of ketum leaves and 46 packets of ketum juice after suspects fled into nearby bushes.
He said a second operation at about 3pm led to the arrest of two men who were caught processing and packaging ketum juice in a forested area in Pulau Pak Mat.
Authorities also confiscated various equipment believed to have been used in the operation, including cooking pots, gas cylinders, stoves and boats used to transport ketum supplies.
Initial urine screening found one of the suspects tested positive for drugs. All seized items and detainees were later handed over to the Kota Bharu district police headquarters for further action.
Early investigations revealed that ketum-selling activities in the area are believed to have been active for the past three years, with the suspects allegedly working part-time processing the drink for daily wages.
The ketum juice was reportedly sold at RM10 per packet.
The case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 and Section 15(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
