TAWAU: Police arrested two men in separate drug-related operations on Monday, including one suspected of boiling and selling ketum juice to local addicts from his home.
In the first case, a man in his 30s was detained during a raid on a house at PPR Taman Sri Semarak around 10.30am while he was resting in his living room.
The suspect allegedly admitted to boiling 21 bottles of ketum juice for sale at RM20 per bottle to local drug users.
Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said police discovered 21 transparent 1.5 litre plastic bottles containing suspected ketum juice hidden in two separate refrigerators in the kitchen during a search of the premises.
“Initial investigations found the liquid contents are believed to be ketum juice with an estimated total weight of 31.2 litres valued at RM350,” Jasmin said in a statement Tuesday.
The suspect has been remanded for further investigation under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952, which provides for fines or imprisonment, upon conviction.
Initial urine screening tests on the suspect returned negative for drugs and checks revealed the local man had no prior criminal record.
In a separate incident, police arrested another local man, aged 20, along Jalan Takada after finding 0.90 grams of methamphetamine worth RM100 in his trouser pocket at about 3.15pm.
The suspect voluntarily surrendered the drugs to police during the operation conducted by police.
Despite the drug possession, his initial urine screening test was negative and he also had no previous criminal record.
The second case is being investigated under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
