IPOH: The General Operations Force (GOF) has seized 1.63 tonnes of ketum leaves and 1,320 bottles of ketum drinks from a lorry.
Ulu Kinta GOF Northern Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Shahrum Hashim said the lorry was stopped during an operation at KM267 southbound on the North-South Expressway near the Menora Tunnel at around 4am on Oct 7.
"The operation was launched after a month-long investigation.
"We stopped the lorry and searched it. We found it was loaded with hundreds of black plastic bags containing ketum leaves and several containers filled with ketum drinks," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 14).
"We arrested the driver, in his 30s, and seized the lorry and the items, which are worth about RM304,800."
ACP Shahrum said the ketum leaves and liquid were obtained from a state in the northern region.
"The driver was paid about RM500 to transport the items to be sold in the Klang Valley.
"The case will be investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
"Those guilty can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed up to five years or both," he said, adding that the suspect and the seized items have been handed over to the Ipoh district police narcotics unit for further investigations.
ACP Shahrum said the GOF would continue to monitor and conduct patrols in Perak, Penang, Perlis and Kedah to stop illegal activities.
"We urge the people to continue being our eyes and ears, channelling information to the authorities about illegal activities," he added.
