1.2 tonnes of ketum leaves seized

Big haul: The plastic bags containing ketum leaves at the Kuala Kedah jetty.

ALOR SETAR: The jetty in Kuala Kedah was stacked full of black plastic bags after authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle about 1.2 tonnes of ketum leaves worth more than RM200,000 out of the country.

Kuala Kedah Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Commander Noor Azreyanti Ishak said the seizure of the ketum leaves, packed in black plastic bags, was made at 0.9 nautical miles northeast of the Kuala Kedah estuary at about 6am on Thursday.

“We were tipped off to suspicious activity and were lying in wait when we detected a boat near the Kuala Kedah estuary.

“Once we received confirmation, an MMEA boat was dispatched to the location,” she said in a statement yesterday.

A suspect, who spotted the authorities approaching, changed course and fled towards land. He escaped by entering a mangrove swamp.

Upon inspection, there were 120 black bags in the boat containing ketum leaves worth an estimated RM216,000.

It is believed that the ketum leaves were being smuggled to a neighbouring country, where the market price is about RM180 per kg compared to RM30 locally.

The ketum leaves and the boat were taken to the jetty in Kuala Kedah and handed over to an investigation officer.

The case has been classified under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.