A husband and wife were arrested after police uncovered an alleged operation involving the processing and sale of ketum water at an unnumbered house in Kampung Bukit Rangin, Kuantan, on Sunday.
The raid was carried out at around 4pm by officers from the Kuantan District Police Headquarters Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division, resulting in the arrest of a 52-year-old local man and his 62-year-old wife.
Kuantan district police chief Assistant Commissioner Ashari Abu Samah said officers seized 187.5kg of ketum leaves and 329 litres of ketum water packed into 470 plastic bags during the operation.
“Various equipment believed to have been used to process ketum water was also seized, including a gas cylinder, metal stove, aluminium pots, strainers, electronic weighing scales and plastic jugs.
“The total value of the seized items is estimated at RM15,745,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Preliminary investigations found that the male suspect had six previous records related to drug offences. He also allegedly admitted to being involved in processing ketum water at the premises for more than a month.
Ashari said the suspect further claimed that he ordered around 300kg of ketum leaves every week to be processed into ketum water.
“The ketum leaves were supplied in 250-gram packets and sold at RM40 each, with a minimum purchase of 1kg.
“The processed ketum water was then sold to customers around Kuantan, including the Tanah Putih Baru area,” he said.
The suspects have been remanded for four days to assist with further investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
