A ketum syndicate operator’s tactic of renting a house solely to process and cook ketum juice came to an abrupt end after the premises was raided by the General Operations Force (GOF) in Gual Periuk on Monday night.
During the Op Taring Wawasan raid at around 11.30pm, officers arrested a 40-year-old local man and seized 100 litres of ketum juice that had already been processed and packaged for sale.
Southeast Brigade GOF Commander Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the operation was launched following intelligence gathering and information received from the public regarding suspicious activities at a house in Jalan Wira, Desa Wirajaya, Gual Periuk.
Upon arriving at the location, officers found the house gate locked and were forced to climb over the fence before knocking on the front door.
“A local man later opened the door and identified himself as the tenant of the house before officers conducted an inspection,” he said on Tuesday.
A search of the kitchen led to the discovery of a refrigerator containing 100 plastic packets filled with a greenish liquid believed to be ketum juice, with a total volume estimated at 100 litres.
Further inspections uncovered two large cooking pots, two stove sets, a furnace, gas cylinders and various equipment believed to have been used to boil and process ketum juice.
Authorities estimated the total value of the seized items at RM5,430.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect had been involved in processing ketum juice since early last year. He allegedly obtained ketum leaves from a supplier known only as “Man” and typically purchased around 25 kilograms of leaves for each cooking session.
According to investigators, the quantity was capable of producing approximately 200 packets of ketum juice, each sold for RM10.
The suspect also admitted to renting the house specifically for ketum-processing activities, while his actual residence was at his in-laws’ home in Kampung Repek.
In a further twist, a urine screening test found the suspect positive for methamphetamine. Police also discovered that he had several previous criminal records.
The case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 and Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
