Cops cripple ketum ring in Kelana Jaya

PETALING JAYA: Police have crippled a ketum distribution ring with the arrest of two men after raiding a unit of flats in Kelana Jaya here.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Fakhruddin Abdul Hamid said police conducted a series of raids last Friday (July 15).

"Based on information received, a team from the Petaling Jaya Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) arrested a 51-year-old man and seized a bottle containing at least 1.5 litres of a liquid believed to be ketum at around 4.45am,” he said.

"About 30mins later, we conducted another raid and arrested a 47-year-old man at the same flats," added ACP Mohd Fakhruddin when speaking to reporters on Monday (July 18).

He said checks there revealed another 1.5-litre bottle containing a liquid believed to be ketum.

"The two men then led us to another unit of flats where we seized 140kg of ketum leaves, and 280 litres of ketum liquid,” he added.

ACP Mohd Fakhruddin said that aside from this, two weighing scales, three pots, three stoves, three gas tanks and other items used to process ketum were seized.

He also said that the two men did not have a prior criminal record and added that the seizure was worth at least RM10,140 and could supply at least 2,000 people.

"The two suspects have been remanded for four days to help with further investigations. Our investigations revealed the two suspects were the cooks for the operation," he said urging the public to come forward if they had any information on ketum distribution or sales.

He said the public should be aware that the act of processing ketum was illegal and action could be taken under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.