JELI: A lorry driver ferrying 2,790kg of ketum leaves was caught by police along the East-West Highway near Kampung Batu Melintang.
Jeli district police chief Supt Saari Yaacob said the 29-year-old suspect was arrested at 6.15pm by a Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department team and a patrol car (MPV) unit while conducting a roadblock.
“On inspection of the lorry, police found 279 black plastic packages containing 2,790kg of ketum leaves estimated to be worth RM111,600,” he said at a press conference in the Jeli police headquarters (IPD), here yesterday.
Saari said the investigation found that the supply of ketum leaves came from the northern state for distribution in the Machang and Pasir Puteh districts at a selling price of RM40 per kg.
“We found that the suspect hired the lorry for RM800 per trip to bring in the supply of ketum leaves to Kelantan. The suspect has no criminal record.
“We also seized the lorry involved with an estimated value of RM130,000 and the suspect has been remanded for four days, from Feb 21 to 24, for further investigation,” he said.
