230kg of ketum leaves worth RM6,900 seized by cops in Kuala Perlis

ARAU: A 54-year-old labourer was arrested for allegedly having 230kg of ketum leaves in his possession at Kampung Wai, Kuala Perlis here on Tuesday (Jan 12).

GOF Northern Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Abdul Ghani Mohamad Ji said the suspect was detained by police during an integrated operation dubbed Ops Benteng that was meant to ensure the security at the borders of Malaysia-Thailand.

"Based on information gathered on smuggling activities at the border, a team of police from the Battalion 18 General Operation Force (GOF), Kangar police headquarters and Kuala Perlis marine police raided an empty house located next to a river at Kampung Wai at about 2.30am.

"Upon arriving at the scene, police saw a man acting in a suspicious manner beside a car that had its engine running," he said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 16).

SAC Abdul Ghani said the suspect tried to escape upon realising the presence of police but was cornered by police before he managed to flee.

SAC Abdul Ghani said a check on the suspect found nothing, but a further check of the car found 23 black rubbish bags containing green leaves believed to be ketum leaves.

He said police seized the contraband item weighing 230kg and worth about RM6,900.

A car was also seized during the operation.

SAC Abdul Ghani said the suspect from Simpang Empat in Perlis tested positive for methamphetamine.

Meanwhile in another operation at 5am on Saturday, police raided a jetty platform near a river in Kampung Sungai Tengah and stumbled upon a pile of black rubbish bags.

"The plastic bags contained green leaves believed to be ketum leaves and were left unattended at the jetty platform. The police personnel decided to wait and observe the area to see if anyone came to pick up the bags," he said.

SAC Abdul Ghani, however said no one came to collect the bags and added that a further inspection showed that the bags contained 820kg of ketum leaves in 82 black rubbish bags.

He added that police seized the ketum leaves worth about RM24,600.