KENINGAU: Police arrested a local man and seized 110 liters of ketum water worth RM1,100 from an unnumbered house at Kampung Jaya Baru here.
District Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Nor Rafidah Kasim said the man in his 30s was arrested on intelligence information regarding ketum water trading activities in the district.
“A police team from the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of the District Police Headquarters here raided an unnumbered house in the village at about 10am and arrested the suspect.
“After inspecting the kitchen of the house, police found three barrels containing plastic bags totaling 110 packages which contained liquid suspected to be ketum water,” she said.
Nor Rafidah said urine test on the suspect was found negative for drugs and a record check found that the suspect was unemployed who have no criminal record.
She said based on initial investigation, the suspect had been actively selling ketum water since end of last year.
“The suspect was remanded for four days and the case is being investigated under Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952 for possessing ketum liquid and leaves containing mitragynine which can be punished under Section 30 (5) of the same Act,” she said.
She said if convicted, the suspect could be fined not more than RM10,000 or imprisoned not more than four years or both.
According to her, ketum abuse can cause addiction.
“The police would like to emphasise that possessing or selling any form of ketum leaves or liquid is an offense under the law and that the police welcome cooperation and information from the public to jointly combat this activity,” she said.
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