Pahang police bust ketum juice distributor

SHAH ALAM - Police have detained a 24-year-old local man believed to have distributed ketum juice within Chegar Medang, Bentong, Pahang, following a public tip-off.

The arrest was made following a raid at a local shop there on March 17 where the police have found two orange coolers filled with a green liquid, believed to be ketum juice.

The coolers were filled with 109 liquid packages or a total 136.25 liters and a further five black plastic bags filled with ketum leaves weighing a total of 46.5 kilograms (kg) were also seized by the police.

The result of the investigation made by the police found out that the ketum leaves were purchased by the suspect in Mentakab with a price of RM30 for 10kg.

The suspect was also believed to buy the ketum leaves once a week from a local man in Mentakab and the efforts to detect the suspect is still ongoing.

The 24-year-old man was said to be involved in cooking, packing and selling a huge quantity of the ketum leaves since early 2022 and was said to rent a shophouse just to conduct the illegal activity.

“The suspect is believed to be selling the ketum juice to his close acquaintances with the price of RM10 per packet,” according to a statement issued by Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar today.

The suspect will be remanded for four days starting from March 18 until March 21, 2022, for further investigation under Section 30 (3) of the Poison Act 1952.

If convicted, he will receive a maximum prison sentence of four years or be fined not more than RM10,000 or both.

The seized ketum leaves of 46.5kg is reported to be worth RM2,325, while the 109 liquid packets is reportedly worth RM1,090.