POLICE arrested a 25-year-old man for carrying 560kg of ketum leaves in his car along the road in Kampung Pasir Dusun in Jeli on Thursday.

Jeli police chief Saari Yaacob said the man was apprehended at 10.30am after cops chased the suspect’s Proton Preve for 15km.

“Earlier, the suspect, an unemployed man, was flagged for driving in a suspicious manner.

“Policemen conducting Ops Tapis later identified themselves and ordered the suspect to stop by the roadside but the young man sped off in his vehicle,” he said in a media conference at the Jeli police headquarters here today.

Saari said after being pursued for a while, the man got out of the car and ran, but was nabbed by policemen.

“In an inspection of the rear seat and booth of the car, police found 56 black plastic bags of ketum leaves weighing 560kg worth RM5,680.

“Apart from the leaves, police also recovered 1,000ml of ketum water and 100ml of cough syrup,” he said.

He said investigations found the suspect has a criminal record related to carrying ketum leaves in Sik, Kedah, for the Tanah Merah market.

“The suspect also tested positive for methamphetamine and is now under remand for four days from Thursday. He is being investigated under section 12(3) and section 15(1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and section 30 of the Poisons Act 1952,” he said. – Bernama, March 26, 2023.