SUNGAI BULOH: A large-scale ketum processing and distribution centre here was busted with the seizure of 550,000ml of ketum juice.
The syndicate, operating under the guise of a landscape company, is believed to have been selling ketum juice since 2021.
However, based on actionable intelligence, a team of police personnel raided two houses in Kampung Melayu Sungai Buloh on Oct 3.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said four men - two locals and two foreigners - aged between 21 and 42 years old, were detained in the raids.
"One of those detained was the ringleader, who is also the owner of the landscape company.
"We believe it is one of the largest ketum operations that has been raided so far," he told a press conference at the Sungai Buloh district police headquarters on Tuesday (Oct 8).
Some 1,100 bottles of ketum juice or 550,000ml were seized along with 41 cartons of smuggled cigarettes, he said.
"Each bottle was sold at RM5 during the day time and RM10 at night.
"The syndicate operated from 7.30am until 2am daily and would communicate with buyers via WhatsApp" he said.
Investigations showed that the syndicate purchased 50kg of ketum leaves per month from Perak for the ketum operation.
"That amount can produce up to 4,000 bottles," he said.
Comm Hussein said the syndicate would produce 400 to 500 bottles in the span of four days before producing the next batch.
"We believe they earned up to RM20,000 a month.
"They have been active since 2021," he said.
Most of the customers would go the houses to purchase the ketum juice, he said.
"However, we are not ruling out the possibility that they might have transporters too," he said.
The 1,100 bottles of ketum juice were worth RN17,500, he said.
"All four suspects have been remanded for seven days.
"The suspects tested negative for drugs," he said.
Comm Hussein said the police will continue with similar operations in the future.
"We urge the public to supply the police with information on crimes, especially drug related ones.
"We are determined to combat the drug menace," he said.
