MMEA Intercepts Boat Heading To Thailand Carrying One Tonne Of Ketum Leaves

KANGAR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle out about one tonne of ketum leaves at a position 0.4 nautical miles northeast of the Kuala Sanglang estuary in Kuala Perlis, near here, yesterday.

Kuala Perlis maritime zone director Maritime Commander Mohd Hashim Mat Zain said acting on intelligence, they detected a fibreglass boat without a registration plate being piloted suspiciously by two individuals towards the Thai border at 1.20 am.

He said the two suspects escaped after steering the boat dangerously and abandoning it at a jetty in the area.

"Upon inspecting the boat, we found 150 black plastic packages suspected to contain ketum leaves weighing about one tonne and valued at RM50,000," he said at a press conference in Kuala Perlis today.

He said the ketum leaves were likely obtained from Kedah for smuggling to Thailand where they are in high demand, adding that the smugglers had modified the interior of the boat to hide the contraband.

"MMEA believes this syndicate has been raided before, as smugglers also previously fled through the nearest exit and abandoned the goods in the boat," he said.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952 and Section 8 (a) of the Fisheries Act 1985 involving the operation of a vessel without a valid licence in Malaysian waters.

Mohd Hashim said the seized ketum and boat estimated to cost RM100,000 were brought into the Kuala Perlis maritime jetty and handed over to investigating officers for further action.

-- BERNAMA