Johor Customs bust illegal ketum water factory, seize RM76,796 in leaves and bottled liquid

JOHOR BAHRU, April 2 — The Johor Customs Department has recently raided an illegal ketum water processing factory in Taman Kempas Utama here with a seizure of RM76,7963 worth of bottles.

Following the raid, the department’s enforcement officers also raided a house in Kampung Kempas Denai, which is about two kilometres from the factory, and is believed to be used as a distribution hub for the illicit liquid.

Johor Customs Department director, Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi, said the first operation involved the house at 9 pm on February 27, where three suspects, including two Indonesian women, aged between 28 and 35, were arrested.

He said that following the first raid, enforcement officers then conducted a second raid on the factory at 9.30 pm the same day.

“The factory was believed to be the main location for processing ketum into 1.5 litre bottles for the past two years.

“Initial investigations revealed that the male suspect, who is still single, is the syndicate manager, while the two foreign woman were employees,” he told reporters at Menara Kastam Johor here today.

The house raid netted 103 kilogrammes of ketum leaves and 189.50 litres of ketum water with a total value of RM9,805.

Following that, a total of 442.9 kilogrammes of ketum leaves and 1,642.5 litres of ketum water with a total value of RM66,991 was later seized at the factory.

Aminul Izmeer said the raiding team also seized 200 gas cylinders, 150 large pots, and 50 gas stoves, while the total value of the seizures, including water and leaves, is worth RM76,796.

He said the supply of ketum leaves was obtained by the syndicate from Kedah.

“The three suspects have been detained to assist in the investigation under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 that prohibits the unauthorised import, export, manufacture, sale, possession, or use of psychotropic substances,” he said, adding that offenders can be fined up to RM10,000, jailed for up to four years, or both.

Ketum water (popularly called air ketum) is a greenish-brown liquid concoction that is used to boost energy and overcome exhaustion.

However, ketum water is illegal despite its widespread traditional usage in rural areas in the northern states and also in Thailand.

The government has classified ketum water as a psychotropic substance with risks of addiction.