GERIK, Feb 12: An attempt by a lorry driver and two âtontosâ to smuggle ketum leaves from Kedah to Kelantan failed when the vehicle was stopped at a roadblock at Km 9 of the Gerik-Jeli stretch of the East-West Highway, in Sungai Lebey near here on Wednesday.
Gerik district police chief, Supt Zulkifli Mahmood said in the incident at about 7 pm, the inspection on the three-tonne lorry found four tonnes (4,000 kilogrammes) of ketum leaves stored in 400 black plastic packages on the back of the heavy vehicle.
âPolice then arrested the 31-year-old lorry driver and pursued the two tontos who were in a black Ford Ranger (4X4) that had passed the roadblock earlier.
âA police team from the District Criminal Investigation Division chased the vehicle for almost 30 kilometres (km) and managed to detain both âtontosâ, aged 35 and 43, after their vehicle skidded and came to a halt at Km 36 of the East-West Highway, near Banding, Gerik,â he told a press conference at the Gerik district police headquarters here, today.
He said initial investigation found that the lorry driver was hired for RM1,200 and the ketum leaves worth about RM40,000 were obtained from Kedah to be brought to Kelantan, and if sold could reach a market value of RM120,000.
Zulkifli said investigations also found that the modus operandi of the two tontos, who were paid RM500 each, was to give instructions to the lorry driver who brought the ketum leaves to change the driver and registration number of the lorry when going through roadblocks.
The lorry driver had no criminal record but the two tontos hadprevious criminal records and for smuggling ketum leaves.
He said all the suspects were remanded for four days beginning yesterday until coming Sunday and the case was being investigated under Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952 which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term not exceeding four years, or both, if convicted.
Police confiscated 8,169 kg of ketum leaves around Gerik district last year and would continue to step up enforcement to ensure that such activities could be curbed effectively.- Bernama
