Coffee Shop Owner Detained For Possessing `Ketum’ Leaves, Powder

ALOR STAR, Dec 24 (Bernama) — Police on Saturday seized a sackful of raw `ketum’ leaves, four small packets of ketum leaf powder and 30 packs of ketum leaf water at a coffee shop at Kampung Telok Bulang, Mukim Tebenggau in Kuala Kedah, here.

Kedah Narcotics Department Head Supt Abdul Jalil Hassan said following information from the public, a narcotics police team raided the coffee shop at 11 am and found the ketum leaves and tools for processing the leaves.

“A 54-year-old man believed to be the owner of the coffee shop together with six customers aged between 20 and 40 who were drinking ketum water at the shop were also detained by police,” he told reporters at his office here.

Abdul Jalil said RM10,000 in cash was also confiscated from the coffee shop owner.

He said the coffee shop owner was being detained for investigation under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 for possessing and selling items listed under the Poisons Act which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a maximum jail term of four years or both upon conviction.

The male customers were detained under Section 3(1) of the Drug Addicts Act 1983 (Treatment and Rehabilitation) after being tested positive for drugs, he said.

— BERNAMA