A man who allegedly processed ketum juice from a makeshift camp hidden inside a forest was arrested after a raid by the General Operations Force (PGA) in Kampung Belukar, Pasir Mas, on Wednesday afternoon.
The operation, carried out at about 3.30pm under Op Taring Wawasan by a special team from the 7th PGA Battalion, led to the arrest of a 38-year-old man.
Authorities also seized 277 packets of ketum juice along with equipment believed to have been used to process the prohibited substance.
Southeast Brigade PGA commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the raid was conducted following intelligence gathered by the team.
He said officers discovered a tent concealed in the forest, where the suspect had set up a processing site equipped with cooking pots, a stove, gas cylinders, and other equipment used to brew ketum juice.
The suspect was arrested and the case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952. The total value of the seized items is estimated at more than RM10,000.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly admitted purchasing ketum leaves for RM40 per kilogram before processing them into ketum juice.
He also claimed the finished product was sold to customers in nearby villages at RM10 per packet.
Police believe the suspect had been operating the illegal business for the past three months.
Ahmad Radzi said the PGA will continue to intensify patrols and enforcement operations in the Pasir Mas area to curb the illegal processing and distribution of ketum products.
