TAWAU: Police remanded five youths following the seizure of 67.5 litres of ketum water worth RM850 at an unnumbered house in Kampung Pukat Tanjung Batu Laut here,Sunday, while efforts are ongoing to identify the actual owner.
Tawau Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said the suspects, all locals aged between 22 and 24, were nabbed during a special Ops Gempur by the district’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division.
Items seized included an orange container and 45 transparent 1.5-litre plastic bottles filled with brown liquid suspected to be ketum water.
“Also confiscated were 10 transparent packets containing ketum leaf powder, another orange plastic container, a metal pot, a green-red LPG cylinder and a metal stove,” he said.
Jasmin said the suspects were detained after acting suspiciously during the raid. Only one of them was employed while the others were jobless.
“No drugs or prohibited items were found on them and their urine tests returned negative,” he said, adding that background checks showed no criminal records.
The case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952, which carries up to five years’ jail, RM100,000 fine, or both, upon conviction.