Perak police arrested five local men in two separate raids in Kerian and Hilir Perak for allegedly possessing and storing ketum leaves and ketum water.
Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the first raid was conducted by the Kerian District Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division (BSJND) at about 10.30pm yesterday at a house in Kampung Nelayan, Tanjung Piandang.
He said three local men aged between 27 and 42 were arrested during the operation, with preliminary checks showing that none had previous criminal records.
“During the inspection, police seized a transparent plastic bottle containing liquid suspected to be ketum water, with an estimated volume of 0.6 litres and a value of RM280.
“Further checks in the kitchen uncovered 22 plastic packets containing liquid suspected to be ketum water, with a total estimated volume of 11.01 litres,” he said here today.
In a separate operation at about 12.20am today, officers from the Hilir Perak BSJND inspected an area behind a house along Jalan Chenderong Balai.
The inspection led to the discovery of 22 black plastic packets containing leaves suspected to be ketum, weighing approximately 196kg and estimated to be worth RM2,940.
“Two local men were arrested during the raid to assist with investigations. Preliminary checks found that both suspects had no previous records,” Mohd Alwi said.
All five suspects are being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
Mohd Alwi said the seized ketum leaves and ketum water were believed to have been intended for distribution, while further investigations are underway to identify the source of the supply and the distribution network involved.
