JOHOR BARU – Three civil servants are among 17 individuals detained in raids conducted in five Johor districts since August 27 on suspicion of involvement in three syndicates processing and selling ketum juice.
State police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said 13 local men, three local women and an Indonesian woman, aged between 20 and 56, were nabbed in seven raids up till Saturday in Kota Tinggi, Kulai, Iskandar Puteri, Tangkak and here.
Also seized were ketum-processing equipment, 542.73kg of ketum leaves and 300.8l of ketum juice worth a total of RM8,435.30, he told the press here today.
He said two suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, while three others have criminal and drug records.
“The syndicates would ferry their ketum from northern states using lorries, declaring the cargo as essential items.
“Ketum leaves currently fetch a price of RM30 to RM80 per kg. This amount, after being processed, produces 10l to 15l of ketum juice. Ketum juice is sold at between RM15 and RM20 per litre.”
Intelligence works spanning a month found that the syndicates had been active since early this year, he said.
The suspects have been remanded between three and seven days to facilitate investigations under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952, which provides for a maximum RM10,000 fine, or a maximum of four years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction. – Bernama, September 7, 2021
