A man’s attempt to use his family’s farm as a source of supply for processing and selling ketum drinks was uncovered following his arrest during an integrated operation in Kuantan.
The 35-year-old man was among two local suspects detained in separate raids conducted by the Intelligence Branch of the Southeast Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) headquarters in Felda Sungai Panching Utara and the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Complex, Kuantan.
Southeast Brigade GOF commander Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) Ahmad Radzi Hussain said initial investigations found that the first suspect admitted to processing and selling ketum drinks around Felda Sungai Panching since February 2026.
“The suspect admitted to processing and selling ketum drinks at RM10 per packet, using ketum leaves obtained from his family’s own farm,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
Ahmad Radzi said another 42-year-old local man was also arrested during the two separate raids.
He said the second suspect was believed to have been involved in selling ketum drinks since 2018 as a source of additional income.
“The suspect admitted obtaining ketum leaves from another local individual. His main customers were local fishermen who would purchase the supply as early as 5am before the stock was sold out on the same day,” he said.
Following the arrests, authorities seized various items believed to have been used for processing and selling ketum drinks, including 74 litres of ketum liquid, 8.5kg of ketum leaves and processing equipment.
The total value of the seized items was estimated at RM3,740.
The case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
All suspects and seized items have since been handed over to the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) at the Kuantan District Police Headquarters (IPD) for further action.
