JOHOR BARU, Dec 27 — A large-scale ketum juice syndicate led by an ex-policeman and his wife here that investigators believe raked in more than RM200,000 a month was uncovered recently after nearly five years in operation.
The syndicate is believed to have been operating since the beginning of 2017.
Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the main suspect, 35, along with his 36-year-old wife and two runners were arrested in a raid on December 22.
He said investigators got their break after arresting a 42 -year-old lorry driver who tested positive for drugs during a sting in Simpang Renggam on December 21.
“During the operation, the suspect had also taken the delivery of 700 kilogrammes in ketum leaves that were from a northern state and hidden under fruits.
“Following the arrest of the lorry driver, the police conducted a raid on the next day at 2.45am and managed to detain the four suspects, consisting of the married couple and their two male assistants, aged between 19 and 36.
“Investigators also seized a number of ketum leaves, ketum juice and also ketum processing equipment,” said Ayob Khan during a media conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.
Police also seized 288 bundles of ketum leaves weighing 75.55kg worth RM755.50 and 60 bottles of ketum juice weighing 90 litres worth RM900 as well as ketum processing equipment.
Ayob Khan said three suspects tested positive for drug usage in urine screenings.
He added that three suspects also had previous criminal drug records.
He declined to disclose further information on the main suspect who is said to be an ex-policeman that last served in Johor Baru.
“Wait till the suspect is charged in court to know. All I can say is that the main suspect was a former civil servant who was sacked from service in 2014,” said Ayob Khan, who will be Bukit Aman’s next Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director next month.
He said that the syndicate’s modus operandi was to rent a factory for RM1,000 to be used as a place to pack and process the ketum leaves.
“The current selling price of ketum leaves is between RM35 to RM80 per kg, while a bottle of ketum water weighing 1.5 litres is sold between RM13 to RM25,” he said.
Ayob Khan said investigations found that the syndicate earned between RM120,000 to more than RM200,000 a month.
“The sole woman suspect, who is the wife of the mastermind, acts as an accountant for the syndicate.
“At the same time, the two male suspects who are assigned as ketum water cooks are given a salary of between RM5,000 to RM10,000 a month,” he said.
The suspects are being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poison Act 1952, which carries a fined not more than RM10,000 or a maximum four years imprisonment or both upon conviction.
