MCO: Police detected new tactic of ketum smugglers
TANAH MERAH: The police have detected a new tactic by ketum (Mitragyna speciose) smugglers during the Movement Control Order (MCO) using the ‘essential services’ leeway given by the government for lorries transporting food supplies.
Kelantan police chief, Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan, said “The tactic was discovered by a police patrol in Kampung Air Asahan, Batu Gajah at 3.50am when they detained a lorry driver and co-driver after the way the lorry was being driven raised suspicions.
“Upon inspection, we discovered the lorry had ketum leaves worth RM60,000.”
He said 2,000kg of the leaves in black plastic packaging and hidden under a pile of bihun rice vermicelli was seized.
“The 48- and 51-year-old suspects have a drug-related record and we believe the supply was for distribution in Pasir Puteh,” Hasanuddin said at a press conference at the Tanah Merah police district headquarters (IPD) today.
The case is being investigated under Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952 with the men placed on remand for four days beginning today.
“We will tighten the monitoring to ensure the special lane at roadblocks isn’t misused again,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, the police arrested three men and a woman aged 18 – 27 for being involved in drug-related activity and defying the MCO by gathering in a house in Kota Bharu at 5.42 this morning.
“We found 1,400 pil kuda (amphetamines) worth RM14,000 in a car belonging to a suspect. All the men had a prior criminal record and tested positive for drugs, while the woman hadn’t a criminal record and tested negative for drugs.
“The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with all the suspects placed under remand for seven days starting today. There is a mandatory death sentence if convicted,” said Hasanuddin.
Bernama
